Body manufacturing firm fined after workers crushed between vehicles

North Staffordshire Magistrates’ Court heard that a colleague of the two men was attempting to manoeuvre an 18 tonne vehicle in the work shop of Commercial Body Specialists Limited on 12 January 2015 when two employees were pinned and crushed between the manoeuvring vehicle and two other stationary vehicles. One other employee jumped out of the way.

One worker suffered several fractures to his pelvis and ribs as well as internal bladder and kidney lacerations. The other worker suffered crush injuries to his legs.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident found that the company had failed to identify and assess workplace transport risks and had failed to put in place protective measures, safe systems of work and proper instruction and training to ensure employee pedestrian safety during vehicle movement.

Commercial Body Specialists Limited, of High Street, Tunstall, Stoke on Trent, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,461.

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