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Andrew Baxter, 50, from Eckington was unloading a 20ft container at Vesuvius UK Limited's Sheepbridge Works in Chesterfield on February 15th 2010.
He was using a forklift truck and mobile ramp when the ramp became separated from the lorry bed, dropping the truck and driver to the ground.
Mr Baxter suffered a fractured back and crushed disk during the incident and spent a total of nine months off work.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) told Chesterfield magistrates there was no evidence of a risk assessment having been carried out for any of the loading/unloading activities taking place on-site.
It said there was knowledge amongst the forklift truck drivers that the ramp could move away from the lorry beds and they had adopted an informal system of using the forks of the truck to push it back into position.
HSE inspector Fiona Coffey said Vesuvius UK Ltd failed to proactively assess the risks of loading and unloading using the mobile ramps, a failure that resulted in Mr Baxter sustaining severe injuries.
"The company had a legal duty to ensure work equipment was safe to use and that employees were instructed in safe systems of work and supervised but it had also failed to do so," she added.
In 2010-11, more than 4,000 employees suffered major injuries after falling from height at work.
Quantum Risk Management are leading Health and Safety Consultants
Forklift driver fractures back in 'avoidable' fall
A Derbyshire manufacturing firm has been fined £24,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £4,815 after a forklift truck driver fell from a ramp whilst unloading a lorry.Andrew Baxter, 50, from Eckington was unloading a 20ft container at Vesuvius UK Limited's Sheepbridge Works in Chesterfield on February 15th 2010.
He was using a forklift truck and mobile ramp when the ramp became separated from the lorry bed, dropping the truck and driver to the ground.
Mr Baxter suffered a fractured back and crushed disk during the incident and spent a total of nine months off work.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) told Chesterfield magistrates there was no evidence of a risk assessment having been carried out for any of the loading/unloading activities taking place on-site.
It said there was knowledge amongst the forklift truck drivers that the ramp could move away from the lorry beds and they had adopted an informal system of using the forks of the truck to push it back into position.
HSE inspector Fiona Coffey said Vesuvius UK Ltd failed to proactively assess the risks of loading and unloading using the mobile ramps, a failure that resulted in Mr Baxter sustaining severe injuries.
"The company had a legal duty to ensure work equipment was safe to use and that employees were instructed in safe systems of work and supervised but it had also failed to do so," she added.
In 2010-11, more than 4,000 employees suffered major injuries after falling from height at work.
Quantum Risk Management are leading Health and Safety Consultants
Posted on 09/01/2012
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0845 6780076
0845 6780076