Trans Load, a company which makes body parts for lorries has been fined for safety failings after an employee was injured when unsecured panels fell on to him during lifting operations. 

The incident which led to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecution at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court happened in July 2014, at Mayfield Avenue Industrial Estate, Weyhill, Andover. 

The court heard that panels for the sides of lorries were being lifted by fork-lift truck. Unsecured, the panels fell on to an employee, injuring him such that he was off work for several weeks. 

Trans Load, of Paneltex House, Somerden Road, Hull, was fined a total of £2,000 and ordered to pay £849 in costs after pleading guilty to an offence under Regulation 8(1)(c) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER). 

HSE inspector Kate Clark said: “Despite the obvious risk of a serious injury, the approach taken to carrying out lifting operations safely was unacceptable. Lifting operations can be dangerous and must be planned and the load secured to ensure they are carried out safely.”