Telford company fined £4m after worker crushed by forklift load

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 17 Oct, 06:14 · Archive

City Electrical Factors Limited was fined £4m after a 40-year-old worker suffered life-changing brain and spine injuries when a 231kg load fell on him in October 2024.

A 40-year-old worker from Telford sustained catastrophic brain and spinal injuries when a 231kg load fell on him while he was working at City Electrical Factors Limited's Proteus Switchgear division on 4 October 2024. He was acting as a spotter while a forklift truck loaded heavy switchboard equipment onto a lorry. The load was not secured to the forklift and fell on top of him. He underwent lifesaving surgery but can no longer communicate with others and now lives in a care home requiring 24-hour care.

City Electrical Factors Limited was fined £4m at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Friday and ordered to pay £6,304 in costs after admitting breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found the lifting operation had not been properly planned or supervised, despite being a regular activity. There was no risk assessment or lift plan, and employees had not been provided with information or instructions.

Investigators found safer alternatives were available. The load had lifting eyes welded to it, meaning the crane attached to the delivery lorry could have been used instead of the forklift. The load could also have been secured to the forklift using existing anchor points. Instead, employees were expected to steady the loads while they were being lifted. HSE inspector Keeley Eves said the injuries were 'completely avoidable' and caused by 'a failure to properly plan for the job taking place'.

How it is being reported

• Electrical wholesaler fined £4m after Telford worker suffered life-changing injuriesA Telford-based electrical wholesaler and manufacturer has been fined £4million after an employee sustained life-changing injuries when he was crushed during loading operations using a forklift truck.Shropshire Live · 17 Oct, 05:57
• Worker left unable to communicate after load fellA Telford company is fined £4m after investigators say the worker suffered brain and spine injuries.BBC Shropshire · 16 Oct, 17:47

In this story: City Electrical Factors Limited · Proteus Switchgear · Telford · Health and Safety Executive · Birmingham Magistrates' Court · Stafford Park

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