Lack of Vehicle and Pedestrian Segregation Led to the Death of a 19-year-old Worker
HSE Inspector Alex Nayar discussed with IOSH magazine the tragic incident in which a 19-year-old worker lost his life due to inadequate vehicle and pedestrian segregation at Sunrise Poultry Farms. Ben Spencer, just two weeks into his job at the farm, was fatally crushed between an HGV and a wall on April 12, 2021.
Sunrise Poultry Farms
Sunrise Poultry Farms, where Ben worked, comprised an egg farm, a packing facility, and an independent maintenance workshop on-site. The incident occurred when an HGV driver, navigating a narrow thoroughfare, attempted a complex manoeuvre to reach the workshop. Ben, without a high-visibility vest and wearing dark clothing, approached the vehicle from the opposite direction. The driver, unaware of Ben's presence, noticed a 'flash' and found Ben on the ground after stopping the vehicle.
Inspector Alex Nayar, after visiting the site, identified inadequate measures for vehicle and pedestrian segregation and issued an improvement notice to Sunrise. The notice required a review and revision of their risk assessment, implementation of additional control measures, or alternative equally effective actions.
Improvements
Sunrise cooperated, investing resources to meet the improvement notice, significantly enhancing workplace transport safety standards. Following a workplace fatality, the police initially investigated for potential gross negligence or corporate manslaughter. In January 2022, the case was transferred to the HSE for prosecution after the police found no grounds for those charges.
The HSE's investigation revealed that Ben lacked yard safety training and wasn't wearing a high-visibility vest. The primary finding was the absence of an effective system for segregating vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
Court case
In Leicester Magistrates’ Court, Sunrise Poultry Farms pleaded guilty to breaching regulations, resulting in a fine of £233,000 and prosecution costs of £8,841.
The inspector emphasised various measures to minimise risks, including using a banksman, prohibiting vehicles along specific routes, mandating hi-viz clothing, implementing pedestrian crossings, and creating demarcated walkways with physical barriers. He suggested considering one-way systems to eliminate the need for vehicle reversing, reducing risks in workplace transport incidents.
Reflecting on the case, Nayar urged IOSH members to critically assess vehicle movement on their sites, engage competent persons for control measures, and prevent inadvertent contact between people and vehicles. He emphasised that Ben's death could have been prevented through a thorough assessment and control of workplace transport risks by Sunrise.