Firm fined after worker breaks leg
An accident in which a worker broke his leg when hit by a truck has led to a £9,000 fine for a food processing company.
The packer and machine operator, Jan Kaminski, was hit from behind by the forklift truck carrying a full pallet of boxed rice flour, Colchester Magistrates' Court heard.
The 49-year-old, of Orwell Road, Harwich, suffered a fractured right leg and extensive and severe bruising on his left leg and knee in the incident at Harwich Industrial Estate, on Europa Way, in July 2010.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the movement of flour on pallets in the packing area was inherently unsafe as it involved the unnecessary use of a fork lift truck in a heavily congested work area, which limited the driver's vision.
The area did not have adequately segregated routes separating pedestrians and vehicles.
Surya Rice Ltd admitted breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 for the safety failings. In addition to the fine, the company was also ordered to pay £3,214 in costs.