Fatal accident at work

A company boss has been fined thousands of pounds after a lorry driver was killed when he was crushed under a grinding machine.

Stephen Warner was working for Specialised Movers removal company and was watching the machine as it was being unloaded by a forklift truck in Maer Lane, Market Drayton, on August this year.

But the forks began to drop after it had taken it off the lorry, and it fell forwards, crushing Mr Warner underneath.

Carole Ann Hible, trading as the Specialised Movers, pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety laws at Market Drayton Magistrates' Court and was fined a total of £9,000 with £4,335 costs.

HSE inspector Grayam Barnes said: "Companies need to ensure that appropriate safety measures are implemented to prevent injuries and to provide a safe working environment.

"Equipment needs to be regularly checked and maintained to ensure that it is in a safe and reliable condition for use.

"In this case the forklift truck was grossly under capacity for the job demanded of it and known to have a bad oil leak in the lifting mechanism."

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