A COMPANY has been fined £160,000 after an employee lost both his legs and became wheelchair bound in an incident.

In June 2022, Andrew McAuley, an employee of William Stobart and Son Ltd, was picking orders at the firm’s warehouse in Appleton Thorn.

The 64-year-old, from Runcorn, was working in close proximity to a forklift truck which was being used to load pallets of slate tiles onto a waiting truck.

The forklift was carrying two pallets, with one on top of the other.

However, the top pallet was not secured to the one below, and when the driver turned the vehicle, both pallets became detached from the forks.

The upper pallet struck Mr McAuley, crushing both of his legs, which had to be amputated below the knee.

He has been left dependent upon a wheelchair and unable to drive or climb stairs, leading to the need for extensive adaptations to the family home.

An investigation was launched by the Health and Safety Executive which found that William Stobart and Son Ltd failed to ensure this area of the warehouse was organised, so that vehicles and pedestrians were segregated and circulated in a safe manner, and loads were secured so far as was reasonably practicable.

William Stobart and Son Ltd has been fined after a worker lost his legs at a warehouse

William Stobart and Son Ltd has been fined after a worker lost his legs at a warehouse

The firm, of Ashville Way Industrial Estate in Sutton Weaver, Runcorn, pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

As a result, the company was fined £160,000 and ordered to pay £4,478 costs at a hearing at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

The prosecution was supported by the Health and Safety Executive’s enforcement lawyer Sam Tiger and paralegal Sarah Thomas.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector Lorna Sherlock said: “Mr McAuley has been left with devastating and life-changing injuries.

“The company failed to implement a safe system of work for loading and unloading activities, thereby exposing employees, and others, to the risk of being struck by loads or workplace vehicles.

“This case illustrates the consequences of failing to segregate vehicles and pedestrians, and to properly secure loads.

“This injury could easily have been prevented.

“Employers should make sure they assess work activities sufficiently and apply effective control measures to minimise the risk from workplace transport.”