Wholesaler fined £66,000 after employee loses leg

A food wholesaler has been fined £66,000 after an employee's leg had to be amputated following a workplace accident.

Osprey Foods Ltd said it was "deeply regretful" of the incident at its site in Holt, Norfolk, on 5 July 2023, and had introduced new safety measures.

A worker was using a pallet truck to load an HGV when the driver pulled away, causing the man and truck to fall between the loading dock and rear of the HGV, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said.

At Peterborough Magistrates' Court on 20 June, the company was fined £66,000, ordered to pay £5,850 in costs and a £2,000 victim surcharge.

A company spokesperson said: "Osprey Foods is deeply regretful of the incident that occurred in July 2023 and our sympathies and thoughts remain with our valued colleague."

The accident left the man with injuries so severe his leg had to be amputated, the HSE said.

The HSE's investigation found a traffic light system used to tell HGV drivers when it was safe to move their vehicles had been broken several weeks prior to the incident and had not been repaired.

The investigation found the broken system had remained green during the loading process meaning the driver pulled away, unaware the employee was still in the trailer of the vehicle.

Osprey Foods pleaded guilty to breaching sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

The company spokesperson said "After a company evaluation into the incident, Osprey Foods has improved the safety of the site and measures include implementing new safeguarding systems, carrying out more extensive staff training and reinforcing operational procedures.

"The safety of Osprey Foods' dedicated staff is at the forefront of the health and safety policies and remains a paramount priority.

"Everyone at Osprey Foods is looking forward to welcoming our colleague back to the business in the near future."

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