A Ruislip company has been prosecuted for failing to comply with health and safety rules at their warehouse, which caused significant harm to a visiting delivery driver.
Davis & Dann Limited pleaded guilty to a health and safety offence at a hearing at Southwark Crown Court on April 14. They were fined £120,000, ordered to pay costs of £12,892 and a victim surcharge of £190 – fines totalling £133,082.
Hillingdon Council officers were notified of the serious health and safety accident, where a visiting delivery driver was hit by a reversing forklift truck being operated by an employee of Davis & Dann Limited in the car park/delivery area at the company’s leased warehouse and distributing centre at Kanta House, Victoria Road, on June 8, 2020.
The delivery driver suffered lacerations to their head and right foot and more serious injuries to their legs, which required surgery.
Davis & Dann Limited initially failed to report the accident to the Health and Safety Executive, only doing so 10 days later when the company was informed that the council was investigating the accident after it was reported by the injured driver’s employer.
The forklift truck driver claimed that they had checked behind themselves and sounded the horn on reversing. However, CCTV highlighted that the driver had failed to carry out the required safety checks, despite being aware that the visiting delivery driver was in the vicinity.
A council environmental health officer carried out an inspection of the premises in July 2020 and found that it lacked effective physical or documented control measures in relation to workplace transport safety measures and traffic control at the site.
It was also found that Davis & Dann Limited had failed to ensure that the employee tasked with drafting the company’s health and safety documentation was suitably qualified and had adequate experience.
Councillor Jonathan Bianco, Hillingdon Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for property, highways, and transport, said: “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.”
Photo credit: Jono Photography/Shutterstock.com
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