A chilled logistics and distribution company has been fined £150,000 after one of its workers was run over by a reversing truck.
The employee of Slough-based PCL Transport 24/7 suffered serious injuries on 15 December 2015 while at a dairy in Aylesbury. He was struck by the reversing lorry while carrying out a pre-use check on his own vehicle.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that safety controls, principally the use of an allocated pre-use vehicle check area, were not being followed by the company’s lorry drivers.
PCL Transport 24/7 pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 17 of Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations and were fined £150,000 as well being ordered to pay costs of £17,649.27 and a victim surcharge of £120.
The company is part of the Bidvest group, and is one of the UK’s leading chilled distribution specialists, transporting dairy and salad items across the UK.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Stephen Faulkner said: “Being struck by vehicles is still one of the highest causes of workplace fatal accidents.
“Employers should ensure that where vehicles and pedestrians use the same areas, there is sufficient separation between them.”
