27.11.2014
Joiner Stuart McNaught, who was 36 at the time, was working on an extension in a house in Duntocher when his employer, William Fulton, drove an unsecured load of 82 plasterboard sheets into the courtyard on a forklift truck in icy conditions.
The load fell off the forks and landed on Mr McNaught, trapping him and causing a broken rib and pelvis, a punctured lung and fractures to both legs.
Although he returned to work five months later, chronic pain forced him to resign after a year.
Mr Fulton had not received basic training in operating a forklift truck, and an investigation found the company had failed to assess the safest way of transporting the plasterboard.
The company has been fined £8,000 for breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
"This incident was clearly foreseeable and therefore readily avoidable. Working below a forklift truck is dangerous and the company should have carried out a proper risk assessment," said Health and Safety Executive inspector Moira Jennings.
Firm Failed To Carry Out Risk Assessment When Moving Heavy Load
A Glasgow construction firm has been fined over an incident in which a worker was crushed under almost two tonnes of plasterboard.Joiner Stuart McNaught, who was 36 at the time, was working on an extension in a house in Duntocher when his employer, William Fulton, drove an unsecured load of 82 plasterboard sheets into the courtyard on a forklift truck in icy conditions.
The load fell off the forks and landed on Mr McNaught, trapping him and causing a broken rib and pelvis, a punctured lung and fractures to both legs.
Although he returned to work five months later, chronic pain forced him to resign after a year.
Mr Fulton had not received basic training in operating a forklift truck, and an investigation found the company had failed to assess the safest way of transporting the plasterboard.
The company has been fined £8,000 for breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
"This incident was clearly foreseeable and therefore readily avoidable. Working below a forklift truck is dangerous and the company should have carried out a proper risk assessment," said Health and Safety Executive inspector Moira Jennings.
Our accident at work claims team could help you secure compensation if you have been injured on a construction site. Find out more information on our Construction Accident Compensation page.
Expert Opinion
This is the latest incident of an accident at work involving a forklift truck, which could have easily been avoided. This man suffered severe and life-changing injuries as a result of his employer not taking its responsibilities for health and safety seriously. <br/> <br/>“Construction is a very dangerous industry and it is vital employers comply with the latest health and safety regulations to prevent incidents such as this, which means providing training related to the operation of equipment and conducting risk assessments before undertaking any tasks. All too often we represent individuals who have suffered severe injuries as a result of employers failing to take their responsibility for safety seriously and we hope this incident will encourage companies to improve their health and safety measures.”
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