A company has been fined £160,000 after an employee lost both legs while working at its site near Warrington.
On 20th June, 2022, Andrew McAuley, from Runcorn, was picking orders at William Stobart & Son Limited’s warehouse in Appleton Thorn. The 64-year-old was working close to a forklift truck (FLT) that was loading pallets of slate tiles onto a truck. The FLT was carrying two pallets stacked on top of each other. The top pallet was unsecured, and when the driver turned, both pallets fell off the forks. The upper pallet struck Mr. McAuley, crushing his legs.
As a result, Mr. McAuley had to have both legs amputated below the knee. He now relies on a wheelchair and is unable to drive or climb stairs, necessitating extensive modifications to his home.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that William Stobart & Son Limited failed to organize the warehouse to ensure vehicles and pedestrians were safely segregated and circulated, and that loads were properly secured as far as was reasonably practicable.
William Stobart & Son Limited, located at Ashville Way Industrial Estate, Sutton Weaver, Runcorn, Cheshire, pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £160,000 and ordered to pay £4,478 in costs at a hearing at Warrington Magistrates Court on July 30, 2024.
The prosecution was supported by HSE enforcement lawyer Sam Tiger and paralegal Sarah Thomas.
After the hearing, HSE Inspector Lorna Sherlock commented: “Mr. McAuley has been left with devastating and life-changing injuries. The company failed to implement a safe system of work for loading and unloading activities, thereby exposing employees and others to the risk of being struck by loads or workplace vehicles. This case illustrates the consequences of failing to segregate vehicles and pedestrians and to properly secure loads. This injury could easily have been prevented. Employers should ensure they assess work activities adequately and apply effective control measures to minimise the risk from workplace transport”
