A VEHICLE company has been ordered to pay £212,000 in fines and costs after a worker was crushed to death at its Wellesbourne headquarters.
Father-of-three Craig Dunn was killed when a lorry travelling at less than 5km/h crushed him while he was working for van and truck sales specialists Imperial Commercials Limited back in January 2014.
Warwick Crown Court heard the firm failed to provide a safe place for its staff to work – failings which led to the death of the 44 year-old at its Loxley Road site.
Mr Dunn was hit by a HGV whose driver could not see further than six metres in front of him as the front grill of the lorry he was driving was raised.
The court said it was not the first time an employee of the firm had driven HGVs around the site in this unsafe manner.
The driver thought he had just hit a stationary vehicle.
But on reversing, he realised he had crushed Mr Dunn, who had been working outside the workshop.
Imperial Commercials Limited, registered in High Wycombe, was fined £166,000, and ordered to pay £46,500 in costs after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Speaking after the hearing, Health and Safety Executive inspector Mark Austin said: “The tragic, needless loss of Mr Dunn’s life could have been prevented had Imperial Commercials Ltd properly considered the risks from the movement of heavy goods vehicles at this site, and provided effective segregation of pedestrians from moving vehicles.
“Even though the vehicle that crushed him was travelling at less than 5Km/h, the size and weight of the vehicle left him no chance of survival.
“Companies who work with vehicles of all sizes need to ensure that all pedestrians are able to circulate and work safely at their premises, at all times.”
