Manufacturing company fined £240,000 following death of 'loving' grandfather in Birmingham
A company has been fined £240,000 after a loving grandfather was killed by a reversing HGV.
A manufacturing company has been fined £240,000 following a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into the death of David Saint, aged 61, of Lincolnshire, who was killed by a reversing HGV in Birmingham.
Mr Saint - who was described as 'my everything' by his daughter - worked as an engineering manager at Northwood Consumer Limited, at its site in Electra Park, Electric Avenue.
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The 61-year-old, from Spalding, Lincolnshire, was walking across the service roads on the shared industrial estate on October 19, 2023, when the reversing HGV collided with him.
Mr Saint left behind his wife, Cassandra, his children Samantha and Adam, his grandchildren Jake and Ava, as well as his father, Terry, and siblings, Paul, Kim and Michael.
His daughter, Samantha, said: "He was my everything; there was nothing he wasn't involved in.
"My life now consists of 'what would my dad do'? I think of him and miss him every day."
An investigation was launched by the HSE, which found that Northwood Consumer Limited failed to take a number of safety precautions, including:
Undertaking a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks associated with workplace transport.
Address the movement of HGVs on its site rules.
Eliminate, as far as possible, the need ot HGVs to reverse.
Provide aid or reassurance to HGVs that had to be reversed.
Display any signage to warn of the hazards arising from the movement of HGVs.
And control when HGVs would need to access the site.
Lead HSE inspector, Charlie Rowe, said: "This is a tragic and shocking case that has devastated Mr Saint’s family, friends and loved ones.
“Pedestrians being struck by moving vehicles remains a leading cause of workplace fatalities in Great Britain.
“Many of these incidents involve the reversal of vehicles with poor visibility, such as HGVs.
“The HSE will continue to take appropriate enforcement action where employers fail to implement reasonably practicable measures to keep people safe.
“My thoughts remain with all of David’s family and friends.”
Northwood Consumer Limited, of Northwood House, Stafford Park, Telford, pleaded guilty to breaching sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
The company was fined £240,000 and ordered pay £6,917 in costs to Birmingham Magistrates Court on October 6.
