Young worker ill-prepared for the workplace had his foot crushed
G. F. Smith and Son (London) Ltd of Hull has been prosecuted and fined £6,000, with £1,750 costs, for breaching health and safety law in the circumstances of an industrial accident in which an 18-year old general warehouse worker had his foot crushed and toes fractured when an electrically powered pallet truck ran over his foot.
The wholesale paper merchant pleaded guilty to the breaches, having permitted the teenager to operate the truck at its premises to transport goods between buildings, without having been given adequate training on how to operate it.
The worker, who was provided by an agency, started working at Smiths on August 23rd 2004. He had presented himself at work wearing trainers and noticed that full-time employees were wearing safety shoes, though he had not been previously advised that he should wear any. On his 4th day at work the accident happened.
The company stated at Hull Magistrates' Court that the teenager had been trained, but this could not be confirmed by records. In its view, the company deemed the equipment to be simple to operate and training would require very little time, the Council's legal representative advised the court that the Independent Training Standards Scheme and Register required a full day's training on such equipment for all novice users.

Comment:
This case highlights the dangers of allowing untrained staff to use work equipment. Many people consider pallet trucks to be everyday items which anyone can easily use, but in untrained hands there is the potential for serious injury. Added to this the person concerned was just 18-years-old, with little experience of the dangers facing him within a workplace, should have been suitably trained and supervised.
Hull City Council's public protection division will continue to strive to ensure that employers provide suitable and sufficient health and safety training for their staff to ensure their well-being at work." Head of public protection at Hull City Council.