A Yorkshire company has been ordered to pay more than £440,000 after a delivery driver was fatally crushed in a horrific forklift truck accident at its depot.
A Preventable Tragedy
Chris Keegan, 54, died at the scene on the morning of 20 November 2023. The incident occurred at the main depot of Hessle Plant Ltd in Castleford, West Yorkshire.
Mr Keegan had been tasked with returning a forklift to a site in Sheffield following repairs. As he reversed the vehicle onto a trailer shortly after 6am, it fell from the side of the trailer bed. He was thrown from the seat and became trapped between the forklift and a neighbouring trailer.
His wife, Dianne, and two of his stepdaughters arrived as emergency services fought to save him, but his injuries proved fatal.
Systemic Safety Failings Exposed
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed multiple critical failures. The forklift involved had not undergone a full safety inspection to ensure it was safe to operate.
Post-accident examination found several defects which should have been identified and fixed beforehand. The HSE discovered that while Hessle Plant Ltd conducted full pre-delivery checks for new customers, it did not do so for machines being returned to existing clients at the time of the accident.
Furthermore, the investigation found that many employees rarely wore seatbelts when operating forklifts, and the company had no system to monitor or enforce their use on site.
Justice and a Heartbroken Family
At Leeds Magistrates' Court on 26 November 2025, 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, plus a £2,000 victim surcharge.
In a moving tribute, Chris's widow, Dianne Keegan, said: "Chris was a wonderful, kind and generous man, who would do anything he could for anyone. 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."
HSE's Stark Warning to Industry
HSE inspector David Beaton stated after the hearing: "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."
He emphasised that wearing a seatbelt would likely have saved Mr Keegan's life. Mr Beaton added: "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 the importance of keeping machinery in efficient working order and ensuring the use of seatbelts is appropriately supervised."
The Mirror contacted Hessle Plant Ltd for comment following the sentencing.
