Newspaper depot: Unsafe

Find out how this scenario can be made safer

Site Description

Forklift trucks unload palletised loads from curtain sided trucks and move them into the warehouse of this newspaper distribution company. Van drivers entered from the same street entrance to pick up the split loads. The site is fairly old and maintenance of the lights was poor, despite staff often working in the hours of darkness.

The Accident

At 4.15 am on September 4th a van driver was manually loading bundles of newspapers from the forecourt into the back of his van. A forklift truck driver unloading a lorry in the same area reversed without looking; hitting the van driver on the head with the raised load as it passed above him.

The Consequences

The van driver suffered severe head injuries, and has been unable to work since due to his disabilities. The company was fined £125,000.