Legal news

Safety failings after man injured falling from forklift

Jonathan Winston Jonathan Winston
1 min read
This blog is more than 14 years old

A farming business has been fined after a worker fractured his skull after falling from the prong of a forklift truck.

Richard Robinson was working at the premises of his employer, WJ Watkins and Sons Ltd, of north Devon, when the accident occurred in August last year. He was in the truck, attempting to crush recycled material and Barnstaple Magistrates Court heard that workers had devised their own method which involved being lifted by the truck, climbing into the bags of material that were suspended in the air and trampling it down before landing again on the forklifts. However, on this occasion Mr Robinson fell from the fork, about one and a half metres to the concrete ground below, causing him to fracture his skull.

The court heard that the company had not provided an alternative, safer method of crushing the material and pleaded guilty to allowing dangerous working practices. It was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay £1,226 in costs. The HSE, speaking after the hearing, stressed that working at height must be properly planned and supervised and a safe system of work should be in place to prevent accidents of this type occurring.

 

Client feedback

Fantastic service - super efficient, no nonsense, quick and communicative. I own and run a Leeds-based Estate Agency and we've tried and tested many many conveyancing solicitors and I can honestly say, Winstons (Samantha and team in particular) are amongst the best! Thanks so much for your help with my recent property sale!
Jonathan
I would highly recommend Winston Solicitors! I was referred by my cousin who also had a fantastic experience. I can’t thank Samantha and Joe enough for their services from day one. They made the whole house buying process feel clear and much less daunting, which I particularly appreciated buying on my own for the first time. They were very responsive and went above and beyond to ensure that I completed on the day I had hoped. The attention to detail in the enquiries was particularly appreciated. Thank you!
Megan
Professional and friendly staff. Complete process on time. Quick response for queries.
Sana
Was assisted by Samira Cakali cannot fault her advice one bit. Knew exactly what steps to take to ensure a quick, clean and lucrative exit. I would recommend Winstons Solicitors to anyone seeking advice or action regarding employment law.
Anonymous
Winston’s were easy to engage and provided clear and transparent information on the process and upfront costs. Once engaged they were responsive and simple to work with. In particular Sidraa was excellent to work with, she was quick to respond and helpful. I was very appreciative of the efficiency and pace with which we progressed.
Tom
Excellent service and easy to contact when needed. Professional advice - would recommend!
Craig
I found Winstons to be a highly professional, efficient and compassionate firm of solicitors. The original estimate of fees for dealing with a complex probate matter including the sale of a property and dealing with inheritance tax proved to be very close to the final amount charged. At all stages throughout the process I was kept well informed of progress and was consulted whenever necessary. All correspondence was polite and pertinent, and my wishes were acted upon promptly. I would have no hesitation in recommending Winstons to others and would readily use their services myself in the future should the need arise.
Anonymous
The professional services provided by Winston Solicitors was exemplary. They were very professional and made the experience as pleasant as it could be. I would happily recommend Winston Solicitors.
Louis
Contact us