Sita UK prosecuted after employee struck by vehicle

National recycling firm fined £200,000 after waste-transfer station worker struck by vehicle

NATIONAL recycling firm Sita UK Ltd have been fined £200,000 after an employee was struck by a 7.5-tonne telehandler. Preston Crown Court heard that Sita failed to provide adequate segregation between pedestrians and moving vehicles at their waste-transfer station in Darwen, Lancashire.

As an employee walked across an outdoor hand-sorting area, he passed behind a stationary telehandler. At the same time, the telehandler began to reverse and struck the worker who was knocked to the ground and then run over by the rear wheel of the vehicle, resulting in injuries that caused him to be hospitalized for two months.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) told the court that the company had identified the risks but failed to put in place suitable controls to stop people being hit by vehicles.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Stuart Kitchingman said: ‘Employers need to look carefully at their workplaces regularly to make sure that pedestrian routes are clearly marked and physically separated from vehicle routes wherever possible.

‘The employee could have easily been killed and still has severe mobility problems as a result of the accident. He is unlikely to be able to work in the near future.’

Sita UK Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and were fined £200,000 with £11,998 costs.