Prosecutions

The delivery driver had both his ankles and lower legs broken when the fork lift truck reversed into him at the Dorset site on 9 March 2010.

Bournemouth Magistrates' Court heard that there was not enough separation of the work area used by both pedestrians and fork lift trucks at the premises.

Although the delivery driver has now returned to work at the company, which manufactures ventilation accessories for the white goods industry, his injuries were initially thought to be severe enough to have ended his career.

Speaking after the case, a Health and Safety (HSE) Inspector said:

"Even though the delivery driver was very experienced, this potentially career-ending injury still occurred.

"The message is that if firms have limited space they still have to organise their operation so that they don't have conflicting activities going on in the same place. Pedestrians and fork lift trucks don't mix."

The Dorset firm pleaded guilty to Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and were fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,407.