William Stobart & Son has been fined £160,000 after an employee lost both legs whilst working at its site near Warrington, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has revealed.

Andrew McAuley, 64, from Runcorn, was picking orders at the firm’s warehouse in Appleton Thorn, near Warrington, on 20 June 2022, close to a forklift truck (FLT) being used to load pallets of slate tiles onto a waiting truck.

The FLT was carrying two pallets, with the top pallet not secured to the one below. As the driver turned the vehicle both pallets fell from the forks, with the upper pallet striking McAuley, crushing his legs.

McAuley had to have both legs amputated below the knee, leaving him dependent upon a wheelchair and unable to drive or climb stairs. As a result extensive adaptations to the family home have had to be made.

A Health and Safety Executive investigation found that William Stobart & Son failed to ensure the area of the warehouse in which the accident happened was organised so that vehicles and pedestrians were segregated and circulated in a safe manner and loads were secured.

William Stobart & Son, which is based at Ashville Way Industrial Estate, Sutton Weaver, Runcorn, Cheshire, pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

The company was fined £160,000 and ordered to pay £4,478 costs at a hearing at Warrington Magistrates Court on 30 July 2024.

The prosecution was supported by HSE enforcement lawyer Sam Tiger and paralegal Sarah Thomas.

After the hearing HSE Inspector Lorna Sherlock said: “Mr McAuley has been left with devastating and life changing injuries.

“The company failed to implement a safe system of work for loading and unloading activities, thereby exposing employees, and others, to the risk of being struck by loads or workplace vehicles. This case illustrates the consequences of failing to segregate vehicles and pedestrians, and to properly secure loads.

“This injury could easily have been prevented. Employers should make sure they assess work activities sufficiently and apply effective control measures to minimise the risk from workplace transport.”

 

 

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