Amputation incident ends in fine for William Stobart & Son

William Stobart & Son has been fined £160,000 after one of its employees lost both his legs in a pallet accident.

Andrew McAuley was working close to a forklift truck, which was being used to load pallets of slate tiles onto a lorry at the firm’s warehouse in Appleton Thorn.

The forklift was carrying two pallets, one on top of the other and when the driver turned the vehicle both became detached from the forks with one of them striking 64-year-old McAuley and crushing his legs.

The employee had to have both legs amputated below the knee and was left dependent upon a wheelchair and unable to drive or climb stairs, leading to the need for extensive adaptations to the family home.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that William Stobart & Son had failed to ensure the warehouse was organised so that vehicles and pedestrians were segregated and circulated in a safe manner and loads were secured.

The haulier pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act and was fined the six-figure sum at Warrington Magistrates’ Court.

HSE Inspector Lorna Sherlock said: “Mr McAuley has been left with devastating and life changing injuries.

“The company failed to implement a safe system of work for loading and unloading activities, thereby exposing employees, and others, to the risk of being struck by loads or workplace vehicles. This case illustrates the consequences of failing to segregate vehicles and pedestrians, and to properly secure loads.”