Haulage firm fined after driver dies in incident

Essex-based road haulage firm YCT Ltd has been fined £170,000 after a driver died after being crushed between two articulated vehicles.

Southend Magistrates Court heard how the unnamed HGV driver, employed by YCT suffered fatal injuries when his vehicle rolled forward out of control while he was coupling the HGV tractor unit to a trailer.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident, which occurred on 20 October 2015, found that YCT failed to implement safe systems of work or monitoring arrangements to ensure that its drivers were consistently undertaking coupling and uncoupling operations safely, in line with industry guidance. As a result, a culture developed whereby its drivers were not always applying trailer parking brakes.

YCT, previously of Port Centric House, Thurrock Park Way, Tilbury, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £170,000 and ordered to pay costs of £6,268.80

Speaking after the case, HSE inspector Jessica Churchyard said: “This tragic incident led to the avoidable death of a young man, and was caused in part by the failure of his employer to implement and monitor safe systems of work to prevent vehicle runaways.

“This death could have easily been prevented if his employer had acted to identify and manage the risks involved, and followed the industry guidance.”