Delivery driver sues business over Eastbourne fall (From The Argus)

Delivery driver sues business over Eastbourne fall

8:10am Friday 30th September 2011 in News By Ruth Lumley

A cardboard box manufacturer has been fined £20,000 after an incident in which a delivery driver suffered severe head injuries after a fall.

The man, who was on the A27 in Eastbourne, was trying to pull a pallet of cardboard boxes across his trailer from the driver's side to the curbside when the strapping snapped and he fell onto the pavement.

He suffered severe head injuries which had life-changing effects. He is still not able to return to work.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) brought a prosecution against W.E. Roberts (Corrugated) Ltd which is based at Thames Works, Grove Road, Northfleet, in Kent.

The company pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety regulations at Dartford Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, and was also ordered to pay £12,190 costs.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector Michelle Taylor said: “The company failed to adequately consider the risks that delivery drivers face when they are not on site. This led to this severe and entirely preventable incident which has had such a long-lasting and devastating effect on this worker.

“The outcome of this case reinforces the responsibility that employers have to all of their workers, wherever they are, not just those on site under constant supervision.”