A male worker may well consider applying for accident compensation following a serious incident in which he suffered major injuries.
The worker, 60, was employed by Collier Industrial Waste Ltd at its waste plant in Trafford Park, Manchester, when the accident happened back in January of last year.
He was carrying out his everyday tasks at the plant when a 35-tonne fork-lift truck reversed into him.
The impact of the truck hitting him caused severe injuries to the man, including numerous broken bones and serious damage to several of his internal organs.
Following the accident, an investigation was carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which found that the industrial waste plant were not using a series of systems that ensured the safety of the workers.
Some of the systems that were found not to be in place included having clearly marked walkways for all staff members, and ensuring that reversing vehicles – such as the fork-lift truck – were supervised by another staff member so as to ensure an accident did not occur.
Collier Industrial Waste Ltd pleased guilty to breaching workplace regulations relating to vehicles and pedestrian safety and were given a fine of £20,000 at Trafford Magistrates’ Court last week.
An HSE spokesperson said that the accident had been 'easily avoidable' had the correct safety precautions been in place, and that the man was lucky to have escaped with his life.