Pedestrian segregation failings lead to serious injury

A company has been fined £160,000 after an employee lost both legs while working at its site near Warrington. ON 20 June 2022, Andrew McAuley, from Runcorn, an employee of William Stobart & Son was picking orders at the firm’s warehouse in Appleton Thorn.

The 64-year-old was working in close proximity to a forklift truck (FLT) which was being used to load pallets of slate tiles onto a waiting truck. The FLT was carrying two pallets, one on top of the other. The top pallet was not secured to the one below, and when the driver turned the vehicle, both pallets became detached from the forks, with the upper pallet striking Mr McAuley, crushing his legs.

Mr McAuley had to have both legs amputated below the knee. He has been left dependent upon a wheelchair and unable to drive or climb stairs, leading to the need for extensive adaptations to the family home.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that William Stobart & Son failed to ensure this area of the warehouse was organised so that vehicles and pedestrians were segregated and circulated in a safe manner and loads were secured so far as was reasonably practicable.

The company was fined £160,000.

HSE Inspector Lorna Sherlock said: “The company failed to implement a safe system of work for loading and unloading activities, thereby exposing employees, and others, to the risk of being struck by loads or workplace vehicles. This case illustrates the consequences of failing to segregate vehicles and pedestrians, and to properly secure loads.”