The Corrugated Case Company Ltd has been fined after an employee was seriously injured by a heavy goods vehicle at its site in Chesterfield.
Mr Newsum suffered damage to his lower spine, fractures to his pelvis, ribs and leg, a damaged shoulder and cuts to the head. He was resuscitated twice in hospital and currently suffers from post-traumatic epilepsy, breathing difficulties, and mobility difficulties. He is still unable to work and it is not yet known whether he will be able to return to his job as a fork lift truck driver.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) told North East Derbyshire magistrates that the company had failed to proactively risk assess and implement control measures for their workplace transport.
After the hearing HSE inspector Fiona Coffey said: "On the day of the incident, the site was congested with unusually high levels of traffic yet there were no pedestrian crossing points, speed restrictions, mirrors or signage, or any other means of segregating pedestrians and vehicles.
"The company had been visited by HSE six months prior to the incident and had been given verbal instruction on how to better control workplace transport, which a Director and the Health and Safety Manager had agreed to. As a result of the company's failure to implement this guidance, their employee suffered painful and life-changing injuries.
"Vehicles at work continue to be a major cause of fatal and major injuries. Last year 27 workers were killed after being hit by a moving vehicle and more than 1,800 were seriously injured."
The company was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay costs of £7,435.
