An electrical contractor has died after falling from a steel basket that was balanced on the forks of a forklift truck.

The operative was working on the premises of haulage firm Borderman Trucks.

The basket, designed to carry vehicle parts, was not secured to the forklift. When the contractor toppled from it, falling 2·5 m to the floor, the basket in turn fell on him, causing fatal injuries. He died some days later in hospital.

An investigation into the accident found that the illegal and dangerous method had been used on a number of previous occasions at the premises and that untrained people had regularly driven forklifts.

Borderman Trucks has been prosecuted and fined £13 000 with almost £3000 in costs.

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor