Oldham waste site worker run over by colleague on first day

A waste company has been fined £250,000 after a man was run over on his first day at work.

The 40-year-old new employee was picking waste at a site in Oldham when a moving shovel loader ran into him from behind.

He suffered a bone fracture and muscle and nerve damage in the incident on 28 July 2021.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Wheeldon Brothers Waste Limited, from Bury, and the firm pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety At Work Act 1974.

The investigation found the worker had been hand picking waste because a conveyor belt had been damaged and removed several months before.

Staff had to work directly on the ground moving vehicles, which the HSE said put them in considerable danger.

There was no risk assessment and a lack of supervision for picking and sorting waste on the ground, the HSE said.

The shovel loader ran over the man, then had to reverse when his colleagues raised the alarm.

He spent a week in hospital.

As well as the £250,000 fine, the company was ordered to pay £4,102.32 costs at a hearing at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on 2 April.

After the hearing, HSE principal inspector, Lisa Bailey said: “This man is lucky to be alive.

“Vehicles such as shovel loaders require plenty of space due to the number of blind spots and poor visibility.

“This incident was easily avoidable by implementing control measures and safe practices.”