Mills Limited, a construction and tools supplier, has been fined £137,000 after an employee was seriously injured when struck by a forklift truck at its warehouse in Hillingdon.
The company, which operates from Zodiac Business Park, Cowley, Uxbridge, was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Wednesday, September 16, after pleading guilty to two offences under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on July 14.
Incident and investigation
The serious incident took place at the warehouse on September 13, 2024, when an employee was hit by a forklift truck, causing them to fall and hit the back of their head on the floor. The worker was left unconscious and required hospital treatment.
Hillingdon Council's health and safety officers launched an investigation after receiving a statutory accident notification on September 20. They reviewed questionnaire responses and health and safety documentation and carried out a site visit on October 4 to assess workplace conditions.
Safety failings found
The investigation found that Mills Limited had failed to put effective controls in place to keep pedestrians separate from vehicle operations. Officers also identified a lack of designated walkways and exclusion zones, restricted visibility for forklift truck operators, and poor management of vehicle movements within the warehouse and yard.
The company's 2023 risk assessments had already flagged concerns about forklift truck movements and pedestrian safety, recommending measures such as better segregation, warning signage and tighter controls around loading and unloading activities. CCTV footage from September 6, just a week before the incident, also showed a near miss involving a pedestrian and a forklift truck at the site, highlighting recurring risks.
Enforcement and sentencing
Following the investigation, the council issued an Improvement Notice on October 25, requiring the company to improve workplace transport safety, including better segregation between vehicles and pedestrians, reviewed risk assessments, and additional controls and monitoring measures.
At sentencing, the judge took into account that the company had self-reported the incident, actively engaged in the investigation and introduced a range of improvements in line with the notice. These included designated pedestrian routes, additional barriers, upgraded signage and lighting, refresher forklift truck training and banksman training for staff.
Mills Limited was ordered to pay a £118,000 fine, a £2,000 victim surcharge and £17,000 towards the council's prosecution costs, bringing the total financial penalty to £137,000.
Councillor Adam Bennett, Hillingdon Council's Cabinet Member for Community, Environment and Enforcement, said: “Businesses have a legal duty to protect the health and safety of their employees, visitors and anyone else who may be affected by their activities.
“This case highlights the serious consequences that can arise when workplace safety risks are not properly addressed, especially when large vehicles and machinery are involved.
“Our environmental health officers play an important role in ensuring businesses comply with the law and take the necessary steps to prevent harm. We will not hesitate to take action where serious failures are identified.”
