A SLOUGH company has been fined more than half a million pounds after a worker's leg was crushed by a forklift truck.

AkzoNobel Packaging Coatings Limited, based in Wexham Road, Slough, has been called out for a 'lack of appropriate supervision' when the incident happened.

The man was working for the manufacturing company when he had been walking across a pedestrina crossing at the firm's site in Birmingham on May 8, 2018.

He was crossing when a forklift truck, driven by another worker, collided with him and crushed his leg and ankle.

The driver did not slow down while approaching the pedestrian crossing and his vision was restricted as the forklift truck was carrying multiple intermediate bulk containers (IBCs).

The injured worker required surgery and skin grafts following the incident.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into the incident found AkzoNobel Packaging Coatings Limited failed to provide an adequate risk assessment nor a safe system of work.

There was also a lack of appropriate supervision. This led to the adoption and development of an unsafe custom and practice on site.

The Slough-based company, of Wexham Road, pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety at work and was sentenced at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on April 3, 2023.

The firm was fined £600,000 and ordered to pay court costs of £3,188.60.

HSE inspector Marie Wheeler said: “This incident could so easily have been avoided by the employer adequately assessing the risks and ensuring a suitable workplace transport system was implemented with correct management and supervision in place.

“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

The Health and Safety Executive is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety.