#TragedyAlert: Company Fined £900,000 After Fatal Workplace Incident
In a somber turn of events, Nationwide Platforms Limited, based in Leicestershire, has been fined £900,000 following a tragic incident that resulted in the death of Lee Benham on 4th November 2021. Lee, a father-of-two, lost his life while attempting to move a scissor lift at the company’s workshop in Liskeard, Cornwall.
Incident Details: Lee Benham, a 45-year-old LGV driver, was working for Nationwide Platforms Limited when the incident occurred. He was operating a scissor lift to clear an access path for moving machinery. Unfortunately, the moveable controls on the scissor lift were positioned in a way that, when operated, led the machinery to move towards him, ultimately crushing him against a static scissor lift.
HSE Investigation Findings: A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation revealed significant lapses in safety measures by Nationwide Platforms Limited. The company failed to adequately consider the dangers associated with operating machinery via moveable controls. Additionally, there was a lack of appropriate monitoring and supervision during the morning when drivers were loading machinery onto lorries.
Impact on the Family: Lee’s wife, Kelly Benham, expressed the profound loss, describing Lee as her soulmate, best friendand rock. She conveyed the immense pain of having her “heart ripped out,” emphasising that their lives are now shatteredand it’s just the three of them—Kelly and their two daughters.
Legal Consequences: Nationwide Platforms Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £900,000 and ordered to pay £12,405 in costs at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court on 21 December 2023.
HSE Inspector’s Statement: HSE Inspector Simon Jones highlighted the tragic nature of the incident and underscored the importance for businesses to conduct thorough risk assessments. He emphasised that appropriate control measures could have prevented the circumstances leading to Lee’s untimely death.
This heartbreaking incident serves as a poignant reminder of the critical need for stringent safety measures in the workplace to prevent such devastating consequences.
#WorkplaceSafety #HSE #SafetyFirst
