A business in Ruislip has been fined £120,000 and ordered to pay £12,892 in costs and a Victim Surcharge of £190 for a health and safety offence, amounting to a total of £133,082.
The fine comes after a visiting delivery driver was hit by a reversing forklift truck being operated by an employee of Davis & Dann Limited at the car park/delivery area of the company’s leased warehouse and distributing centre in Kanta House, Victoria Road, Ruislip on 8 June 2020.
The delivery driver suffered lacerations and more serious injuries to their legs which needed surgery.
The company failed to report the accident to the Health and Safety Executive initially, and it was only reported 10 days later when the council began investigating it. The company was found to have lacked effective physical or documented control measures in relation to workplace transport safety measures and traffic control at the site.
The company was issued two improvement notices to address workplace transport safety measures, and the other demanded that risk assessments should be carried out.
Despite the mitigating factors, such as good compliance history and improvements made, the court considered the level of harm caused to the visiting driver and the health and safety risk to employees and other workers.
Cllr Jonathan Bianco, Hillingdon Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Property, Highways and Transport, commented: “I hope that this case serves as a lasting reminder to all business owners of the importance of complying with health and safety regulations.
“A delivery driver received serious and life-changing injuries through no fault of their own and we will never hesitate to prosecute in circumstances like this to safeguard our residents, visitors and employees.”
