05 June 2009
Sasha Wood

Corby Magistrates' Court has demanded that construction company BAM pay a £28,540 penalty for traffic management failures that led to a forklift truck running over a subcontractor at a new £22.5 million shopping complex in Corby, Northamptonshire.

The fitter's firm, Pyrotect, had been subcontracted by BAM Construction to install a fire protection system at the shopping centre. He was crossing the mall area carrying a piece of plasterboard and walking away from the forklift when it suddenly reversed, hitting him from behind.

The forklift driver didn't see the worker and thought he had backed the truck onto a piece of fallen plasterboard. But when he got out of the truck to investigate, he found the worker beneath the plasterboard.

The subcontractor suffered multiple leg injuries and was rushed to hospital for surgery. Two years after the accident, he is still unable to return to work.

"BAM are one of the big players in the construction field and we would expect better," said HSE inspector Mhairi Lockwood, "especially as they have been advised previously on workplace transport at this site."

Lockwood said the HSE investigation showed that BAM had traffic management policies, but the company had failed to maintain and review traffic routes to ensure they were adhered to throughout the project.

She said all companies must assess the risks and take precautions when pedestrians and vehicles work in close proximity.

At a Corby magistrates hearing, BAM pleaded guilty to breaking Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act, by failing to ensure a subcontractor's safety. The company was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay £13,540 in HSE costs.

Categories:
HSE, Enforcement (prosecutions), Prosecutions, Enforcement (prosecutions), Workplace transport



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