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PHW · Working at height · 2026-07-07

South East Refurbishment Limited fined £90,000 after a worker fell from a forklift's tipping bucket

Ashford, Kent · Margate Magistrates Court

What happened

A worker fell from a tipping bucket attached to a forklift truck while dismantling pipework. A scissor lift had been ordered but was too tall for the work area, so the forklift was substituted without appropriate safety measures.

Injuries: Extensive hospitalisation, permanent left-side paralysis affecting mobility, severe back pain and lasting psychological impact.

The breach

Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

The sentence

  • Fine: £90,000
  • Costs: £27,241
HSE inspector

“Falls from height continue to be the leading cause of workplace fatalities in Great Britain, with 31 people losing their lives in the past year.”

What would have prevented it

Never substitute unsuitable equipment, such as a forklift bucket, for a proper access platform.

How PHW helps

The machines, packs and quizzes that fit this kind of site.

Sector

Training and H&S evidence for construction sites

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Safety pack

Working at height

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Machine

Counterbalance forklift

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Machine

MEWP: scissor (3a)

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Quiz

Could you show a site manager today, in writing, that each operator is authorised to use your machines?

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Source: HSE press release, Company fined after man left physically ruined after fall from height