Docking firm fined after worker death

A docking company has been prosecuted after one of its workers lost his life.

In October 2003, a Russian seaman was overseeing the loading of his ship when he was struck by a reach stacker vehicle which was being used to lift containers on to the vessel.

The employee, who was walking along the quayside when he was hit, sustained fatal injuries in the accident.

During a recent hearing at Goole magistrates' court, Transatlantic UK - an international freight forwarding services provider - was ordered to pay a fine of £10,000, plus costs of £7,442.

Commenting on the case, Health and Safety Executive inspector Kirsty Welsh said: "This tragic incident could have been avoided had the company shown forethought and applied some basic planning to their dockside operations."

She added that employers must carefully examine the risks in their operating environment and take steps to reduce or eliminate them.

18/07/2008 14:55