Company Fined as Worker Is Injured Due to Lack of Segregation

The HSE have announced that an accident could have been easily prevented by the segregation of vehicles and personnel in September last year, that saw a man injured after he was crushed against a skip in a work accident at an environmental waste site.

He was working for Rugeley Environmental Waste Services Ltd when he had been asked to hand pick waste from a skip at the premises in Staffordshire. A skid steer loader vehicle reversed into him whist he was performing his duties and pinned him to the skip.

The Health and Safety Executive found that the accident happened in a confined space, which had no clear separation of pedestrians and vehicles. It was also revealed that there had been no risk assessment undertaken for the use of vehicles on the premises. They stressed the importance of carrying out risk assessments when vehicles are used in the workplace.

A-Safe believe that clear segregation of pedestrian and vehicle areas are essential to good health and safety practice, whether that be outside premises, or inside a warehouse or factory.

“It’s sad to hear about the accident in Staffordshire” said a spokesperson for A-Safe. “Ignoring health and safety puts lives and people’s wellbeing at risk.  At A-Safe we think it’s essential to not just identify vehicle and pedestrian areas, but to segregate them effectively too.  A physical barrier stops accidents happening, and a painted line just acts as a guide.”

At Stafford Magistrates Court earlier this week, the company were fined £5,000 after they pleaded guilty to breaking health and safety law in regards to the accident.

To read more about traffic and pedestrian segregation, visit www.asafe.com.