A man tragically died after falling from a forklift while attempting to repair a roof at Moss Hall Farm in Tarporley, Cheshire. The victim, Mr Young, was lifted approximately 16 feet high in a potato box placed on the forks of a forklift. As he moved inside the unstable box, it tipped over, causing fatal head injuries.
Paramedics arrived promptly at the scene, but Mr Young was pronounced dead on arrival. The accident has raised serious concerns about safety practices on the farm.
Health and Safety inspectors criticised the farm for using a forklift as a makeshift lifting device instead of appropriate equipment such as a scissor lift or cherry picker. The investigation revealed that the farm failed to plan and implement basic safety measures. Additionally, the forklift operator was untrained, which increased the risk of the accident.
The farm owner, D.S. Thornhill (Rushton) Limited, was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay £10,000 in costs. An individual, Thornhill of Eaton Lane, Tarporley, was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay £4,000 in costs for breaches of Health and Safety regulations.
A Prohibition Notice was issued to stop unsafe work involving the forklift until safety standards are improved. The company was found guilty of violating Sections 3(1) and 37 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Authorities have emphasised the importance of using proper safety equipment to prevent further farmyard tragedies.
Originally published by UKNIP.
