Watch moment 20-year-old worker riding pallet truck is hit by forklift in Yorkshire warehouse
This video shows the moment a young worker riding a pallet truck is hit by a forklift in a Yorkshire warehouse.
Charlie O’Dowd was left with multiple foot fractures and long-term nerve damage after the ride-on pallet truck he was using collided with a forklift.
The incident happened at bed spring manufacturer Leggett & Platt Components Europe Limited’s Long Royd warehouse in Barnsley in November 2024.
He was riding the truck during the installation of new automated machinery within the warehouse.
However, his truck, which was unguarded, collided with a fork lift truck being driven by another employee.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the company had made changes to its workplace transport routes to accommodate the installation works taking place.
However, the HSE said these changes meant both ride-on pallet trucks and fork lift trucks were required to use the same routes, within what was a busy stock loading area.
It meant visibility was limited and vehicle movements had increased.
The HSE investigation concluded that the company had focused on the installation of the new machinery but had failed to adequately consider the impact that significant changes to workplace transport arrangements would have on worker safety. The changes to vehicle routes had not been properly risk assessed before being implemented.
The company pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2(1) of the Health & Safey at Work etc. Act 1974 in relation to the safe use of workplace transport within the warehouse.
The company was fined £80,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £3,374 at Leeds Magistrates Court on October 20.
HSE Inspector Chris Parker said: "This case highlights the importance of carefully assessing the wider safety implications of any changes made within a workplace, even where those changes may be temporary.
"When workplace transport routes are altered, employers must ensure that the risks created by those changes are properly assessed and controlled before they are introduced.
"Had suitable planning and risk assessment been carried out, this incident could have been prevented."