Plastic product manufacturer Glynwed Pipe Systems has been fined £1 million after a delivery driver from Mark Doel Transport was fatally injured.

Cambridge Crown Court heard how Gareth Wilson, a delivery driver for Mark Doel Transport, was fatally injured when he was struck by a fork lift truck which had large coils suspended from the forks.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found Glynwed Pipe Systems failed to properly manage workplace transport in the yard area where employees and members of the public were exposed to the risk of being hit.  

The investigation also found that the systems of work in place were not, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe.

Glynwed Pipe Systems of St Peter’s Road, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and have been fined £1m and ordered to pay costs of £27,942.57

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Roxanne Barker said:  “There are more than 5,000 accidents involving transport in the workplace every year, and, like in this case, sadly some of which are fatal.

“The HSE investigation found the yard was not organised to allow safe circulation of people and traffic as appropriate routes were not identified and therefore insufficient in number.

“A properly implemented Traffic Management Plan should have identified sufficient measures for the separation of vehicles and people including protected walkways, clear signage and barriers.”