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In May 2022, a goat farming company was fined £180,000 for safety offences after an employee was killed by a reversing vehicle. On 1 August 2018, an employee of Yorkshire Dairy Goats was struck by a reversing telescopic materials handler vehicle (telehandler) while working on a farm in York.
An HSE investigation revealed that, after finishing her shift, the woman walked through a corridor and into the path of the reversing vehicle. The driver was unable to see the worker and could not prevent the accident. The company received a £180,000 fine, plus £20,000 in costs.
Avoiding vehicle incidents in your builders merchant
A high proportion of onsite traffic accidents are caused by reversing vehicles, but it's possible to minimise risks with simple safety controls:
- Assess where vehicles reverse on your site and evaluate if it is necessary. Consider if a one-way system could eliminate the need.
- If reversing is unavoidable, check that you have suitable controls in place – reversing alarms, flashing lights and motion sensors.
- If you have routes that step into traffic movement, ensure you have suitable signage and barriers in place.
- Consider using trained signallers (or banksmen) to guide drivers.
- Minimise the interaction between pedestrians and vehicles wherever possible.
- Ask visiting drivers to report to reception for an overview of your site layout.
Last updated
July 1, 2022
Opus Safety
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Opus Safety
We've worked across UK industry for years. The numbers show what our clients achieve when compliance becomes a strength, not a burden.
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