25.02.2009

Forklift platform costs £13k

UK building developer, Wynbrook Ltd, of Stapleford, Nottingham has been fined £10,000 plus £3,000 in prosecution costs after an electrician fell over two metres from a fork mounted work platform.

The driver of the telehandler had not been trained in the correct use of the non integrated platform and had failed to secure it to the forks.

The platform became unstable and fell off of the forks, causing the electrician injuries which left him unable to work for more than eight months.

Those using the platform typically wore a harness, but the telehandler operator was failed to use the retaining pin to prevent the forks from being dropped accidentally.

Health & Safety Inspector Martin Giles said: “this incident could have been avoided if the company had managed this risk by ensuring the telehandler driver had the appropriate training required to carry out the lifting operation safely.”