HSE warning over poorly maintained vehicles

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned operators to ensure vehicles are maintained in a safe condition after a company director was banned for knowingly exposing employees to unsafe working conditions.

Preston Crown Court heard that Zarif Mohammed allowed the continued use of the same seriously damaged machine on a Blackburn waste transfer site, despite having a conviction for transport-related health and safety offences following a fatality in 2013.

Mohammed has also been subjected to further enforcement action in 2017 for using a poorly maintained and damaged telehandler.

An HSE investigation in November 2018 found the telehandler was being used without working reverse lights, a camera or mirrors, which presented a serious risk of people being struck and seriously injured as the driver would not be able to see adequately while reversing the vehicle.

Mohammed pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act and was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

He was also ordered to undertake 190 hours of unpaid work with a further six rehabilitation days and he was struck off from working as a company director for five years.

HSE inspector Steven Boyd said “Mr Mohammed had been previously convicted by the HSE following a fatality at a previous company of which he was a director and then was served additional enforcement by the HSE on a visit to a new company of which he was a director.

Boyd added: “Workplace transport incidents remain a major cause of fatal and serious injuries in the waste and recycling industry.

“It is important that vehicles are maintained in a safe condition.”