Electrical wholesaler and manufacturer City Electrical Factors Limited has been fined £4 million after an employee suffered severe brain and spinal injuries during a forklift loading operation in Telford.
The incident occurred on 4 October 2024 at the company’s Proteus Switchgear Industrial Division, where a 40 year old employee was helping load heavy switchboard equipment onto a flatbed lorry.
Worker crushed during forklift operation
The employee was acting as a spotter while a forklift transported switchboard equipment weighing 231kg.
The unsecured load fell from the forklift and struck him, causing serious injuries that required lifesaving surgery.
The father of one now requires continuous care, lives in a care home and is unable to communicate or carry out everyday activities independently.
HSE investigation identifies safety failures
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the lifting operation had not been properly planned, supervised or conducted safely.
There was no risk assessment or lifting plan, despite the activity being undertaken regularly.
Employees had also received insufficient information and instructions about the operation.
Investigators found that existing anchor points could have secured the equipment to the forklift.
Alternatively, lifting eyes attached to the equipment would have allowed the delivery lorry’s crane to be used.
Instead, employees were expected to steady heavy loads manually while they were moved.
Company fined for health and safety breach
City Electrical Factors Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
At Birmingham Magistrates Court on 16 October 2026, the company was fined £4 million and ordered to pay £6,304 in costs.
HSE guidance states that lifting operations must be properly planned, with appropriate risk assessments, supervision and clearly defined responsibilities to protect workers.
HSE Inspector Keeley Eves said: “This incident had truly tragic consequences.
“To make matters worse it was completely avoidable and caused by a failure to properly plan for the job taking place.
“The company could have used safer alternative methods to lift the load, such as the lorry-mounted crane which was available, instead of using the forklift truck.
“Instead, the employee was placed at unnecessary risk and now has to live with his devastating injuries.
“Loading and unloading operations remain one of the most hazardous transport activities in the workplace.
“Employers must ensure that lifting operations are properly planned by competent persons, supervised and carried out safely.”
