A fatal incident at a Nottingham wood yard has led to legal repercussions for the company.
- On 29th April 2019, Thomas Brooke was fatally struck by a JCB wheeled loader at his family’s wood recycling business.
- The Health & Safety Executive identified critical safety failures at John Brooke (Timber Treatments) Limited.
- The company has been fined £22,500 for breaches in health and safety regulations.
- This case underscores the imperative for stringent workplace safety measures.
On the 29th of April, 2019, tragedy struck at John Brooke (Timber Treatments) Limited in Nottingham when 31-year-old Thomas Brooke was killed by a JCB wheeled loader while walking across the yard. The loader, operating with its bucket raised, was one of multiple vehicles in motion that day. Brooke, who was a director at the family-owned business, suffered fatal injuries from the collision. This unfortunate event highlighted severe lapses in workplace safety protocols.
An investigation by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that the company had failed significantly in safeguarding pedestrian safety in its operational areas. Specifically, there were no physical barriers or control measures in place to separate pedestrians from areas where heavy machinery such as loading shovels, lorries, and forklift trucks operated. The company’s failure to adequately assess the risks associated with machinery operating with reduced visibility, and to sufficiently train, instruct, or monitor employees, contributed to the fatal incident.
John Brooke (Timber Treatments) Limited was charged with breaching regulation 17(1) of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, alongside section 33(1)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. On 20th August 2024, at Nottingham Crown Court, the company was fined £22,500 and ordered to pay costs amounting to £44,227.28. The legal ruling pointedly reiterates the company’s lapses in adhering to safety protocols mandated by health and safety regulations.
Following the sentencing, HSE inspector Lindsay Bentley expressed the profound difficulty of the case for all involved, emphasizing the essential duty of those in control of work environments to ensure safe operational practices. She remarked, “This has been a very difficult case for all concerned. However, those in control of work have a responsibility to implement safe methods of working. Had simple measures been taken, this tragedy could have been prevented.” These words serve as a poignant reminder of the preventable nature of the tragedy that unfolded.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the severe repercussions businesses face when neglecting health and safety regulations. It underscores the absolute necessity for companies in all sectors to diligently enforce comprehensive safety measures to protect their workforce, thereby averting such tragic occurrences in the future.
This tragedy reinforces the critical importance of maintaining rigorous health and safety standards in the workplace.
