“This tragic case,” explained HSE Inspector David Bibby, “highlights the importance of proper planning for deliveries, particularly around the risks of moving forklift trucks.
“Had Wessex Lift Co Limited considered this, they would have identified safer methods for receiving deliveries, something which they implemented immediately after the incident.”
The incident in question took place on 16 November 2007.
Lorry driver Adam Millichip, from Tenbury, was delivering pallets of sheet steel to Wessex Lift Co Limited in Romsey, Hampshire.
The 27-year-old had parked his lorry at the side of the road, in preparation for the pallets to be offloaded by a forklift truck.
As the forklift driver used the forklift to manoeuvre one of the pallets, weighing approximately one tonne, it struck Mr Millichip across the chest, trapping him against the side of his lorry.
The crush injuries across his chest caused major internal organ failure and he died shortly afterwards.
An HSE investigation found inadequate controls were in place at the time of the incident to protect people from moving vehicles, and insufficient consideration had been given to the risks involved in offloading.
Winchester Crown Court was told the HSE had previously given advice to the company about effectively managing workplace transport risks.
After pleading guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, Wessex Lift Co Limited, of Budds Lane, Romsey, Hampshire, was fined £65,000 and ordered to pay costs of £60,000.
Following the hearing Mr Millichip's mother, Susan, said:
“I can only describe losing Adam as like the devastation of an atom bomb. It has shattered so many lives. It has devastated Adam’s son, Luke, who is five. We all feel the fun has gone out of our lives.
“Although it is a blessing that we always did everything together as a family, it is also now a curse because there will always be a huge hole where Adam was.
“It was an incident that should never have happened and no other family should suffer like we have.”
