In the early morning of 2 November 2017, the worker was walking across the depot at Burntwood Business Park, near Cannock in Staffordshire, when he was struck by the reversing vehicle. He was pinned to the ground and his colleagues had to use a pallet truck to free him. He suffered serious fractures to his arm and soft tissue injuries to his legs and was off work for several months.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigators found there was inadequate segregation between forklift trucks and pedestrians within the workplace. A risk assessment had been carried out but had not identified the importance of achieving robust segregation in an area where frequent forklift truck movements took place.
At Cannock Magistrates' Court last month, Fedex UK admitted breaching s 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act and as well as the fine, was ordered to pay costs of £10,033.39.
"Those in control of work have a responsibility to provide safe methods of working and a safe working environment," warned HSE inspector Wendy Campbell. "Collisions between vehicles and pedestrians can be avoided if the workplace layout is properly planned, effectively segregated and suitable systems of work are introduced.
"If physical barriers and a suitable system of work had been in place the injuries sustained by this employee could have been prevented," she added.
