Chris Keegan was thrown from the seat of a forklift and became trapped between the forklift and a neighbouring trailer – tragically his injuries proved fatal and he died at the scene
Chris Keegan was fatally crushed at work(Image: Health and Safety Executive / SWNS)
A heartbroken widow says she will never get over her husband’s death after he was fatally crushed in a “horrific” forklift accident.
Delivery driver Chris Keegan was killed in an incident while working for Hessle Plant Ltd at the firm’s main depot in Castleford, West Yorks.
Now, his employer has been fined more than £400,000 and ordered to pay £8,000 in costs – as well as a £2,000 victim surcharge. It comes two years after Mr Keegan’s death on November 20, 2023.
The forklift truck involved in the accident(Image: Health and Safety Executive / SWNS)
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Leeds Magistrates’ Court heard that he had been tasked with returning a forklift truck to a site in Sheffield, South Yorks., following repair work.
As he reversed the vehicle onto the trailer shortly after 6am, it fell from the side of the trailer bed. Mr Keegan was thrown from the seat and became trapped between the forklift and a neighbouring trailer.
His wife and two of his stepdaughters arrived at the depot as the emergency services fought to save his life, but tragically his injuries proved fatal and he died at the scene.
Chris’ widow Dianne said: “Chris was a wonderful, kind and generous man, who would do anything he could for anyone. He especially did anything he could for me.
“My heart is broken, and I will never get over losing my husband in such a horrific way. He never deserved to die in such tragic circumstances.”
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the forklift had not been subject to a full inspection to ensure it was safe to operate.
Examination of the forklift by HSE after the accident found several other defects which should have been identified and rectified before it was operated.
The investigation found that whilst Hessle Plant Ltd would undertake a full pre-delivery inspection on forklift trucks being delivered to new customers, at the time of the accident the company did not do this for machines being returned to existing customers.
Delivery driver Chris Keegan was fatally crushed in an incident at employer Hessle Plant’s depot(Image: Health and Safety Executive / SWNS)
HSE also found that many company employees would rarely wear seatbelts when operating forklift trucks, and there was no system for monitoring and enforcing seatbelt use on site.
Hessle Plant Ltd, of Carrwood Road Industrial Estate, Glasshoughton, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
The company was fined £433,550 and ordered to pay £8,146.80 in costs and a £2,000 victim surcharge as Leeds Magistrates’ Court on November 26.
Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector, David Beaton, said: “This was a tragic and preventable death.
“Mr Keegan was placed at undue risk by operating a machine with underlying maintenance defects, which he would have been unaware of when attempting to reverse the forklift in the dark onto a trailer with an exposed edge.
“Had Mr Keegan been wearing the seatbelt provided, the accident he suffered would likely not have proven fatal.
“Every year there are fatal accidents caused by machinery which has not been properly maintained or inspected, and forklift truck drivers not wearing seatbelts.
“This case should underline to all businesses, which hire out or operate forklift trucks, the importance of keeping machinery in efficient working order and ensuring the use of seatbelts by forklift drivers is appropriately supervised.”
The Mirror has contacted Hessle Plant Ltd for omment.
