SIG fined after customer crushed
BUILDING materials group SIG must pay £21,000 in fines and costs after one of its lorries reversed into a customer at its base in Salford.
SIG Trading, a subsidiary of the Sheffield-based group, admitted two offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 at a hearing at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on November 6.
The court heard how the lorry crushed the man against a wall at the Eccles warehouse in James Nasmyth Way on September 1, 2012. He survived, suffering severe bruising.
Health and safety officers from Salford City Council launched an investigation and found the company had failed to protect customers and staff from vehicles on the site. Staff were not fully trained or supervised.
An improvement notice was served which meant the customer collection process had to be revised and reviewed. The collection point has now been moved away from the delivery area and all staff have been given health and safety training.
Councillor Gena Merret, assistant mayor for housing and environment at the council, said: “The customer is extremely lucky to be alive as this could have been a fatal accident. I’m pleased to hear that safety steps have been taken and we will continue to make sure people are as safe as possible in Salford.”
SIG was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay £9,262 court costs for failing to ensure the health and safety of customers and staff.
