An automotive manufacturer has been fined after a worker died on the day he was due to take voluntary redundancy.
Darren Small, who worked for Calsonic Kansei UK Limited of Llanelli, sustained fatal head injuries after being struck by a forklift truck which reversed into him, knocking him to the ground after he had gone onto the factory floor to issue instructions to its operator.
Calsonic Kansei pleaded guilty to breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 at Swansea Crown Court and was fined £400,000 and ordered to pay costs of £44,790. Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Stephen Jones, said that it was quite common for forklift trucks to operate in the same area as pedestrians, but that working procedures and systems need to be in place to prevent accidents occurring.
He added: “This tragic accident could have been avoided had all contractors and employees been aware of the risks, and had the safety procedures been taken to avoid such risks.”