Big fine for haulage firm after worker killed

A Worcestershire-based haulage firm has been handed a big fine following a fatal incident in which a driver was crushed by a reversing vehicle.

Worcester Crown Court heard how, in December 2013, a Tooles Transport employee, 60-year-old Kevin Scott, was helping a colleague reverse a vehicle when he became trapped between the reversing vehicle and his own.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found drivers were routinely labelling up their loads in the yard while other lorries were returning to the yard and reversing in close proximity.

The investigation found there was no segregation of vehicles and pedestrians, lighting was inadequate and there was deep shadow between parked lorries.

Tooles Transport, based at Rushock Trading Estate in Droitwich Spa was fined £150,000 and ordered to pay costs of £253,728.

HSE principal inspector Elizabeth Hornsby said: “Those in control of work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working and to provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers in the safe system of working.

“If a suitable safe system of work had been in place prior to the incident, this tragic loss of life could have been prevented.”