Royal Mail fined over lorry death
11/03/2010
Royal Mail has been handed a £90,000 fine following the death of an employee who was killed when he was crushed between a reversing HGV cab and its trailer.
Colin Smith, 57, was fatally injured in September 2006 at Royal Mail's Heathrow Worldwide Distribution Centre (HWDC) as he removed the connecting lock between the cab and the trailer.
Mr Smith was found trapped between the two vehicles by the driver after he had finished manoeuvring his lorry into position at the depot.
Royal Mail Group Ltd, based at 148 Old Street, London, was ordered to pay £90,000 and costs of £42,549.56 for breaching section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 at Reading Crown Court.
Following the case, health and safety executive (HSE) inspector Karl Howes said the death should act as a reminder to other firms using HGVs of their legal duty to protect their workers.
"In areas where vehicles are manoeuvring, employers have a legal duty to ensure that work can be done safely. Royal Mail's guilty plea demonstrates that they acknowledge the failings and since the accident they have put measures in place to prevent a recurrence," he said.
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