Poor vehicle reversing at work - same failures, same outcome

摘要

The dreadful consequences of failures to separate pedestrians from vehicles in the workplace feature all too frequently in these pages (see, for example, HSB 450 p.9 and 449 p.9). The details of the failures are often remarkably similar, involving inadequate risk assessments, an absence of pedestrian walkaways and one-way traffic systems, reversing vehicles, a lack of rules, poor lighting and insufficient markings. In this feature, we look at a fine of £300,000 imposed on a plant hire and waste management company, Leedale, which embodies all of these failures. The fine amounted to 105% of the company's most recent pre-tax profits.