Associated British Ports, DFDS Seaways PLC and ICTS (UK) Ltd have been fined after a security guard was fatally injured when he was struck by an articulated vehicle.
The security guard was employed at the container terminal at Immingham Docks when he approached the HGV which was entering a gate and walked in front of the vehicle. The guard was not visible to the driver on approach or as he walked in front of the vehicle.
The security guard was dragged underneath it as it turned towards a warehouse and sustained multiple injuries. He died at the scene of the incident in September 2015.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found Associated British Ports and DFDS Seaways PLC had failed to carry out a suitable and sufficient workplace transport risk assessment, and had not considered the risks that vehicles entering, leaving and manoeuvring in the gate posed to others.
Associated British Ports required the security guard at the gate to stop traffic and check pedestrians and vehicles entering the terminal, but failed to provide means to do so safely as there was no signage indicating drivers should stop and report to security, and no safe facilities.
ICTS (UK) Ltd failed to provide adequate training, and the risks of stopping traffic without any physical protective measures in place had not been considered.
The companies all pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and were fined the following:
After the hearing HSE inspector Carol Downes commented "there are more than 5,000 incidents involving transport in the workplace every year, and, like in this case, sadly, some of which are fatal".
"HSE found inadequate consultation between parties and no assessment of the risks to the segregation of vehicles and pedestrians. A properly implemented transport risk assessment should have identified sufficient measures to separate people and vehicles, and provide safe facilities".
