Accident at work news
13/08/2010

Vineyard owner crushed to death

A delivery company has been fined after causing an accident at work which led to the death of a man in 2008.

The incident occurred at a vineyard near St Austell in Cornwall when the owner was taking delivery of empty wine bottles. The delivery man's load fell from the tail lift of the lorry and hit the vineyard owner, causing him serious head and chest injuries from which he died.

Following the man's death, the delivery company was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for failing to have adequate procedures for unloading goods on pallets.

The company was fined £200,000 last week and ordered to pay legal costs of nearly £17,000.

An HSE spokesperson highlighted the dangers of unloading heavy loads without the correct equipment and training.

It has not been reported if the deceased's family have made a compensation claim against the delivery company for the man's accident at work.