A manufacturing firm has been fined £80,000 after a visiting HGV driver sustained life-changing injuries when he fell from his trailer during loading operations.
The Dobbs Logistics driver had been delivering and collecting goods for Penn Elcom at its County Durham site in November 2024. He was manually moving cages to and from a cage carrier when a wheel on one of the cages became stuck, causing it to tip. As he stepped backwards the driver fell from the trailer, suffering a brain injury and multiple fractures. He has been unable to return to work since.
A Health and Safety Executive investigation found Penn Elcom had failed to ensure the safety of employees and visiting drivers. Inspectors said the company did not have suitable measures in place to prevent falls from height during loading and unloading.
Penn Elcom pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £80,000, plus £4,537.32 in costs, at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.
HSE inspector Beth Chapman said falls from vehicles accounted for around a third of all workplace transport injuries, with many taking place during loading.
“This was a wholly avoidable incident caused by the company’s failure to identify the risks of working at height and implement suitable control measures,” she said.
“Had Penn Elcom properly assessed the risks and taken action to prevent falls from height, the driver would not have suffered these life-changing injuries.
“Employers must take effective measures to prevent falls during loading and unloading, either by avoiding work at height altogether or by using appropriate equipment and safe systems of work.”
