Viridor Waste Management has pleaded guilty to causing life changing injuries after one of its employees was crushed by a reversing 22.5-tonne shovel loader.
Folkestone Magistrates’ Court heard that on 27 February 2017, the employee was working on foot at the company’s materials recycling facility site in Crayford, as a banksman.
He was assisting an HGV to manoeuvre into a bay while a shovel loader reversed out of the bay independently.
The vehicle knocked him to the ground and drove over the lower half of his body.
The HSE said he suffered very serious internal injuries and multiple serious fractures, both with significant life changing effects.
An investigation by the HSE found that Viridor Waste Management had failed to organise the workplace in such a way that pedestrians and vehicles could circulate in a safe manner.
It said this prosecution was the fourth in four years for Viridor, two of which related to fatal incidents.
The company was found in breach of Regulation 4 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and was fined £400,000.
Speaking after the case HSE inspector Megan Carr said: “This incident is a reminder to the waste and recycling industry as to the importance of good workplace transport control which can often be achieved by simple pragmatic steps to avoid such incidents from occurring.
“HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
