A warehouse in Salford has been slapped with a £12,000 fine after a customer was almost crushed to death by a reversing lorry.
Manchester Magistrates Court heard on Wednesday how the man was crushed against the wall by the lorry at SIG Trading Limited, Eccles, on September 1 2012.
The man escaped with severe bruising.
Councillor Gena Merret, Assistant Mayor for Housing and Environment at Salford City Council, said: “The customer is extremely lucky to be alive as this could have been a fatal accident.
A damning Salford City Council investigation discovered the company had failed to protect customers and staff from vehicles on the site, while staff were found not to be fully trained or supervised.
An improvement notice was quickly served which meant the customer collection process had to be revised and reviewed.
The company has since relocated the customer collection point away from the delivery area and all employees have received health and safety training.
Councillor Merret said: “I’m pleased to hear that safety steps have been taken and we will continue to make sure people are as safe as possible in Salford.”
The company admitted two offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Image courtesy of Colin Smith, with thanks
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