A paper recycling company has been fined following the death of a worker who was thrown from a forklift truck.
In January 2013 Mohammed Yasin died after a forklift truck overturned while he was working at Wolverhampton-based Recycle Paper UK.
Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court was told on 9 March Yasin was using the forklift to carry a 980kg load. He was thrown from the truck and later died because of the injuries he sustained when he was struck by the equipment.
The HSE, which prosecuted the company, investigated the incident and found the firm had failed to provide Yasin with any appropriate training on how to use the forklift safely. It had also failed to properly supervise the activity.
The company, which held an O-licence authorising up to six vehicles and nine trailers, was fined a nominal fee of £1 as it had gone into liquidation in September 2014. Magistrates noted they would have considered a £160,000 fine if the company had still been trading.
HSE inspector Caroline Lane said: “This was an tragic incident that highlights the importance for duty holders to appropriately supervise and train workers to the required standard when operating such machinery.”
