Astham Advice Helpline Industry News - Employee’s death results in payment of £16,000

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a warning to companies that use forklift trucks following the death of an employee who was involved with this type of vehicle. The man was crushed to death when a container of dye fell on him as he assisted with the unloading operation.

Townley Dyestuffs Ltd of High Street, Tarporley, Cheshire were prosecuted following the accident in August 2005. A fine of £10,000 plus costs was ordered after the company pled guilty to the charge that they failed to ensure the safety at work of an employee under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, s 2(1).

The container that crushed the man had a specialist mechanism for being emptied but the employees had adopted an improvised method when the accident happened. This resulted in the 1.1 ton container of dye sliding off the front of the forks of the forklift truck and causing the death of the employee.