An incident involving a reversing telehandler resulted in a personal injury at work for a visiting worker at an Exeter company, leading to a prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive, accident claim experts recently reported.
Newton Abbot native, Andrew Grist, had been waiting for the unloading of his lorry to be finished at the Waste Management Centre at Kenbury Wood when the reversing telehandler backed into him, according to his work accident claim. The man sustained severe foot and leg injuries in the incident, including a nearly severed toe, broken bones in his foot, and a detached calf muscle, necessitating him being unable to return to work for a sum total of six months as he recuperated from his injuries.
During an investigation conducted by the HSE, it was discovered that the telehandler had a large blind spot for the driver due to its large size. However, the installation of a reversing camera or any other related safety device had not been installed in the telehandler.
Leese’s Ltd, the operator of the site, was prosecuted at Exeter Magistrates’ Court by the HSE, which led the firm, located in Exeter’s Matford Business Park on Manaton Close, to admit breaching the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations. As a result, Leese’s Ltd was given a fine of £4,500 and was told to pay a total of £818in court costs and fees.
Speaking after the court hearing, one HSE inspector said that site owners are responsible for ensuring telehandlers and other vehicles have good visibility all round. The inspector added that this means all blind spots for drivers must be eliminated.