Maxi Haulage has been ordered to pay £153,401 in fines and costs after a worker was crushed by a piece of metal that fell from the top deck of a double-decker trailer.
A six metre-long iece of metal ducting weighing 28kg fell from the top deck of the trailer at hit an unnamed worker on the head in February 2015.
The HSE said the incident, which took place at Maxi Haulage’s site in Cape Road, Warwick, caused “serious, life-changing injuries” to the worker, including a fractured skull.
An HSE investigation discovered that the company had not put in place systems for unloading trailers at its depots. Staff were also not properly informed around pedestrian and vehicle segregation rules at the site, and the company did little about the rules not being followed.
The company, which is based in Kilwinning Road, Irvine, pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 at Warwick Crown Court on 10 July.
It was fined £100,000 and must pay £53,401 in costs.
HSE inspector Mark Austin said: “This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply implementing suitable control measures and safe working practices. The company itself had identified and easily implemented the necessary measures after this tragic event.
“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
