The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned employers to ensure sufficient protection measures are in place after a company was forced to pay more than £20,000 in fines and compensation.
Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court imposed a £13,500 fine on Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Ltd in Birmingham, with costs of £2,888 and an additional £4,000 in compensation after an employee suffered a fractured rib caused by a pallet that fell off a forklift truck.
The company pleaded guilty on 5 August to failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of employees under Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Following an investigation, the company was prosecuted by the HSE.
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“It is important that individuals and employers remember their duties under the law to take reasonable care of the health and safety of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work,” said HSE inspector Amarjit Kalay.
“The injuries could have been significantly worse, or even fatal, and employers must ensure heavy equipment is used safely.”
