Meat firm gets £20k bill for ‘fault-ridden’ forklift

MIB United Meat Ltd, of Enfield, Middlesex, was prosecuted by the HSE at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, September 3, after admitting three breaches of safety legislation.

Magistrates heard the firm emailed a fraudulent document concerning a forklift truck to the HSE following a routine inspection of its premises in Stockingswater Lane, Enfield, on March 8 2013. Inspectors had requested to see the firm’s records for a 2.5t counterbalance forklift truck.

But a subsequent probe revealed the forklift truck had never been examined, as required by safety rules for lifting equipment, since its purchase in August 2011.

Endangered its operator​

More than 40 faults, some that could have endangered its operator, were discovered on the vehicle after it was tested by a specialist HSE mechanical inspector in April 2013.

MIB United Meat Ltd received a prohibition notice stopping the use of the vehicle until the faults had been remedied.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Tahir Mortuza said: “MIB United Meat Ltd was required by law to make sure its forklift truck was maintained regularly and properly examined to allow the identification of safety-critical defects. It failed to do this and the vehicle was allowed to deteriorate to the point of being riddled with faults.​

‘Blatant attempt to deceive HSE’​

“It compounded this failure with a blatant attempt to deceive the HSE by forging documentation purporting to be an examination record. This is a serious offence and demonstrates that the company was willing to expose its employees to the risk of serious injury or even death.”​

MIB was fined a total of £18,000 and ordered to pay £2,314 in full costs for single breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974; the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations and the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations.

The latest case follows five successful prosecutions for forklift truck health and safety offences this year. One incident at a vegetable processing firm resulted in a fatal injury and a £200,000 bill for the firm involved.

Read a feature on forklift truck maintenance published in our sister title Food Manufacture​ here​.

HSE advice on the safe operation and maintenance of forklift trucks is available here​.