Health and safety breach led to forklift driver’s death

A haulage company in Oldham has been fined £85,000 after a fork lift truck driver was killed while loading an HGV.

Chorlton Express Transport appeared at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on 17 April following the death of Ian Dawson at its premises on 19 November 2020.

The court heard that Dawson was loading pallets onto the lorry when the vehicle moved forward, causing the forklift to overturn.

Dawson, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was trapped under the vehicle and died as a result of his injuries.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Chorlton Express Transport failed to put sufficient safe systems of work in place regarding vehicle movements, or to ensure that all fork lift truck drivers were compelled to wear seat belts.

The court heard that, had Mr Dawson been wearing a seat belt, it is highly likely that this would have saved his life.

Dawson’s partner, Jane Medhurst, said: “What happened that day was so catastrophic. It has drastically changed my life. I still find it difficult to cope with the loss of Ian.

“I have now had to move out of the house we shared, it still haunts me that he is gone.”

HSE inspector Jane Carroll said: “The failures of this company has left a family without the man they loved.

“The importance of wearing seatbelts cannot be stressed enough.

“The failures meant the company exposed employees, and others, to the risk of being struck or caught by workplace vehicles.”