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The owner of a vineyard died whilst helping to unload empty wine bottles from the back of a lorry of Gregory Distribution of North Tawton, Cornwall, driven by an agency driver in April 2008.
The bottles fell on him at the vineyard at St. Ewe, inflicting fatal head and chest injuries.
A HSE Inspector commented:
'This tragic accident highlights the dangers involved in unloading large and heavy loads using a tail lift. Employers should ensure that employees are given the right equipment, information, instruction and training to allow them to unload loads safely. Where employers use the services of agency staff they should ensure that those agency staff are aware of the systems of work in place and have the skills and training to undertake the required tasks.
Tail lifts should be examined by a competent person at least every 6 months to ensure that they are safe to use'.
The company was fined £200,000 with £16,993 costs.
A HSE Inspector commented:
'This tragic accident highlights the dangers involved in unloading large and heavy loads using a tail lift. Employers should ensure that employees are given the right equipment, information, instruction and training to allow them to unload loads safely. Where employers use the services of agency staff they should ensure that those agency staff are aware of the systems of work in place and have the skills and training to undertake the required tasks.
Tail lifts should be examined by a competent person at least every 6 months to ensure that they are safe to use'.
The company was fined £200,000 with £16,993 costs.
