Forklift trucks are used every day in warehouses, factories, distribution centres, and construction sites across the UK. Because they are such a familiar part of operations, it can be easy to overlook the significant risks associated with lifting and unloading activities.
A recent prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) serves as a stark reminder that when lifting operations are not properly planned and supervised, the consequences can be life changing.
What Happened?
In September 2026, Smith & Nephew Medical Ltd was fined £230,000 after a worker suffered life-changing injuries when a 1.2-tonne crate containing an electron microscope fell from a forklift truck during an unloading operation. The company was also ordered to pay £111,000 in costs.
The incident involved Mr Dubey, an employee of Nippon Express (UK) Ltd, who was delivering the crate to the company’s site in Hull. Due to changes in normal delivery arrangements, Smith & Nephew Medical Ltd took responsibility for unloading the equipment. However, the operation was not properly assessed, planned, or supervised. As a result, the worker was positioned in an unsafe location and the load was lifted in an unsafe manner, causing the crate to fall and strike him.
What Did HSE Find?
The investigation identified several significant failings:
- The unloading operation had not been adequately planned.
- No assessment had been carried out to determine whether the forklift truck was suitable for the characteristics of the load.
- The lifting activity was not effectively supervised.
- There was insufficient consideration of who should be involved in the task and what precautions were required.
- The operation was not meaningfully controlled, despite the significant risks involved.
Could This Happen in Your Business?
Consider the following questions:
- Are non-routine lifting operations properly risk assessed?
- Are forklift drivers trained, authorised, and competent?
- Is lifting equipment suitable for the load being handled?
- Are unloading activities effectively planned and supervised?
- Are visitors, contractors, and delivery personnel kept clear of lifting areas?
- Are safe exclusion zones established during loading and unloading operations?
If there is any uncertainty around these questions, it may be time to review your arrangements.
Three Actions You Can Take This Month
- Review your lifting operations to ensure non-standard deliveries and unusual loads are properly assessed before work begins.
- Inspect your traffic management arrangements to confirm pedestrians, contractors, and delivery personnel are protected from vehicle and lifting activities.
- Verify forklift operator competence and supervision to ensure operators remain trained, authorised, and supported when undertaking complex lifting activities.
How Kingfisher Can Help
When it comes to lifting operations, proper planning is not optional, it is essential.
A task that appears straightforward can result in serious injury if responsibilities, equipment suitability, supervision, and safe working methods are not clearly considered beforehand.
A proactive review can help identify weaknesses before they result in serious injury, enforcement action, or costly disruption.
We can support your organisation with workplace transport assessments, lifting operation reviews, risk assessments, contractor management audits, workplace inspections, and health and safety compliance audits.