Portslade fencing boss fined after customer injured by forklift truck

A business owner has been fined nearly £14,000 after a customer was injured by a forklift truck.

Richard Meaker, of RJ Meaker Fencing, was found guilty of two breaches of health and safety laws at a hearing at Brighton Magistrates’ Court.

It came after “serious deficiencies” were found by council officials at the company’s site in Middle Street, Portslade, which injured a customer in March.

The man was in the yard picking up a bag of sand he had bought when a fork lift truck reversed into him, badly injuring his foot and lower leg.

After prosecution by Brighton and Hove City Council, Mr Meaker was fined £13,825 at a hearing.

Tim Nichols, the council’s head of licensing, said: “Once again it has taken a tragic incident involving an innocent individual to high-light the fundamental importance of following health and safety regulations.”

To report cases call 01273 294429 or email ehl.safety@brightonhove.gov.uk

Comments(12)

Brighton pebbles says...
12:22pm Sun 7 Oct 12

I'm on the fence on this one.

Nathan_Adler says...
1:24pm Sun 7 Oct 12

This could be the gateway for further litigation.

PorkBoat says...
2:14pm Sun 7 Oct 12

P.S. That should be c***s

John Steed says...
2:19pm Sun 7 Oct 12

just what a small family business needs in the current econimic climate I do not condone any breech of any regulations, particualy H & E regulations but a huge fine like this is likely to do more damage to the business and not nessacarily achieve the required result of good H & E policy and observance.

worthingite says...
4:20pm Sun 7 Oct 12

I got them to do some work at my mothers house because they did do work for WSCC and a lot of school work,they got some kid to do the work and it was awful,the boss had the right hump coming out to inspect the work saying 'I knew I should not have done this job'

Well never again,shoddy workmanship and a very very poor product and service.

The gate never did shut properly to this day.

Cowboys !

Andy R says...
6:53pm Sun 7 Oct 12

John Steed wrote:
just what a small family business needs in the current econimic climate I do not condone any breech of any regulations, particualy H & E regulations but a huge fine like this is likely to do more damage to the business and not nessacarily achieve the required result of good H & E policy and observance.
Er..no...it'll hopefully ensure that they don't do it again. What are "H&E" regulations by the way?

vogon1 says...
7:21pm Sun 7 Oct 12

Who wood believe it? Meaker guilty of this offence. He was suppost to be innocent....

F in L says...
7:34pm Sun 7 Oct 12

I use Sector, this lt are useless.

henrypage says...
10:05pm Sun 7 Oct 12

I have always found Meakers products expensive.

Dave At Home says...
1:03am Mon 8 Oct 12

henrypage wrote:
I have always found Meakers products expensive.
You are telling me they are, I saw a quote for a little steel gate.... which the Council duly sanctioned and paid for.... no wonder they (B&HCC) have trouble balancing the books and our taxes keep on going up.

John Steed says...
2:29pm Mon 8 Oct 12

Andy R wrote:
John Steed wrote:
just what a small family business needs in the current econimic climate I do not condone any breech of any regulations, particualy H & E regulations but a huge fine like this is likely to do more damage to the business and not nessacarily achieve the required result of good H & E policy and observance.
Er..no...it'll hopefully ensure that they don't do it again. What are "H&E" regulations by the way?
mis-typed S being just below E I meant H & S

harebell says...
6:00pm Sat 13 Oct 12

Hi I can not believe these above comments that have been made I have personally used Meaker Fencing 5 or six times and so have my family used them and can highly recommend this company

I do know that the business has just been taken over and is under new management.

click2find

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