Bilston textile firm fined £300,000 after worker struck by vehicle
A textile firm based in Bilston has been hit with a large fine after an incident which saw a worker seriously injured after being hit by a telehandler.
JMP Wilcox & Company Limited were fined £300,000 at Dudley Magistrates’ Court on June 20, more than two years after the incident at the factory at Beldray Works in Bilston.
The man suffered serious injuries to his legs in the incident, which happened on March 23, 2023, with stills from CCTV footage captured the scene moments before the 39-year-old man was struck.
He had been using a ride-on electric pallet truck inside the factory building, with the pallet trucks being used for transporting goods of clothing to sorting lines and other areas around the factory.
The man and his supervisor had been finding stock in the ‘goods-in’ area and he was using his pallet truck to return an empty cage when he was hit by a telescopic handler that was being driven by another employee.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company failed to properly manage vehicle movements on site.
This included organising the workplace in such a way as to ensure the safety of its employees, both pedestrians and those using vehicles.
The HSE provides guidance about what workplace transport arrangements can be put in place to prevent incidents.
These include the importance of risk assessment considering the risks associated with impact from other vehicles in the area such as telescopic handlers, forklift trucks and other trucks such as heavy goods vehicles (HGV) and what separation is required from those vehicles.
It also includes what separation would be required from other pedestrians and that these controls are implemented.
JMP Wilcox & Co Limited of Beldray Works, Beldray Road, Bilston pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and were fined £300,000 and ordered to pay costs of £7,732.
HSE inspector Gail Bell said: “This incident highlights the dangers to safety from inadequate management of workplace transport.
“A man suffered very serious injuries due to the failure to put suitable control measures in place.
“These measures ensure people are kept safe at work and specifically prevent them being struck by a moving vehicle.”
This HSE prosecution was brought by enforcement lawyer Andy Siddall and paralegal officer Melissa Wardle.
JMP Wilcox & Co Limited have been contacted for a comment.
