Pipe Firm Fined Following Worker's Death

A pipe firm has been fined for four health and safety breaches that led to the death of a worker in August 2014.

Cherry Pipes Ltd, Dungannon, was fined £24,000 as well as costs of £854 At Antrim Crown Court.

The sentencing comes after a Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) investigation into the fatal incident at the company's premises in Nutts Corner Business Park, Crumlin, Co. Antrim.

A 49-year-old Polish employee was fatally injured when a forklift truck he was driving overturned, trapping him between the vehicle’s safety frame and the ground. The investigation found that the deceased was employed as a general operative, not a forklift truck operator and as a result had not been trained on the operation of the lift trucks by the company.

Kevin Campbell, an inspector with HSENI’s Major Investigation Team, said: "Employers must ensure that operators of forklift trucks are properly trained, competent and authorised to operate lift trucks. No one should be allowed to operate a forklift truck unless they have received the appropriate training and instruction."

(CD)