Redditch company fined after worker crushed by one-tonne block while inside HGV trailer

A VEHICLE maintenance company in Redditch has been fined after one of its workers was crushed under a one-tonne concrete block.

The father -of-two, 35, had been working for BA Mobile Fleet Services Limited when the incident happened on December 14 2023.

His leg injuries were so severe his  left foot and lower leg subsequently had to be amputated, while he sustained serious injuries to his right leg. The man was also dismissed from his job after the incident.

The then 33-year-old had been inside an HGV box trailer as it was being loaded with the one-tonne concrete blocks.

The vehicle was being loaded in preparation for a Driver Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) brake test.

He had been inside the trailer with a colleague while a third worker loaded the blocks using a forklift truck.

It was during this process that the forklift truck ‘nudged’ a stack of blocks inside the trailer, causing them to topple on to the man’s legs – resulting in his devastating and life-changing injuries.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that BA Mobile Fleet Services Limited had failed to take appropriate precautions to segregate workers from moving vehicles on site.

The investigation also identified that the company had not provided training to the forklift truck driver and they had not authorised him to operate such vehicles.

Preventing workplace transport incidents requires organisations to implement proven control measures consistently. This means conducting thorough risk assessments, maintaining equipment rigorously, and empowering workers to identify hazards before incidents occur.

HSE inspector Emma Page said: “The injuries sustained here by this young man have been truly life-changing.

“Too many people are injured or killed every year in workplace transport related incidents.

“Companies should do all they can to ensure all workers go home safely to their families at the end of each day.

“We will take action against those who fail to do so.”