The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted a Leeds firm after an employee was crushed to death while unloading a cargo of glass from a container lorry.

In April 2006, administration manager Alan Fletcher from Leeds and two cargo handlers had been present with a supervisor as cases of glass were unloaded from an open-top freight container at Roadways Container Logistics Limited’s container base in Stourton, Leeds.

Mr Fletcher, 59, was crushed when he tried to stop the final case – weighing approximately two tonnes – from falling as it was being lifted from the container.

The HSE investigation found that the case had not been secured properly – and that neither Mr Fletcher nor his colleagues had received the appropriate training in lifting operations. HSE inspectors also found that no risk assessment or formal planning had been carried out prior to the incident.

On Friday (21/05/10) at Leeds Crown Court, Roadways Container Logistics Limited of Valley Farm Way in Stourton pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The company was fined £250,000 and ordered to pay £100,000 costs.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector Morag Irwin said that the measures in place for unloading the cargo were ‘grossly inadequate’ – and there was a failure to carry out a risk assessment or formal planning, as well as a lack of training.

Ms Irwin said that all these factors resulted in the ‘tragic and unnecessary death’ of an employee that could have been avoided.

‘Today’s hearing highlights the importance of having an effective system in place for managing health and safety generally – and specifically when lifting heavy goods – and I hope it serves as a warning to other companies,’ added Ms Irwin.

‘HSE has produced a lot of guidance on this matter, which can be downloaded from our website,’ she advised.

‘And I would urge other companies not to take any chances when it comes to carrying out lifting operations.’

After the hearing, Mr Fletcher’s widow Jackie issued a statement on behalf of his family:

‘It's four years since my husband lost his life at Roadways Container Logistics and I'm relieved that today's verdict finally allows some sentiment of closure. 

‘My only hope now is that lessons have been learned, and that no one else has to endure the heartache of losing a loved one in this way.’

© 5r1 Limited 2010