Fallen stock firm fined £80k over worker’s ‘horrific’ injuries

A Defra-licensed stock removal company has been fined £80,000 after a worker suffered “horrific injuries”, including a fractured skull, broken clavicle, ripped earlobe, and multiple haematomas.

The incident happened on 19 October 2022, when the worker was struck by a telehandler bucket while removing cattle from the back of a lorry.

The cause was found to be a failure in the safe system of work involving the telehandler’s quick hitch system.

See also: Cheshire farmer fined £16,000 after fatal forklift incident

The quick hitch is a device that allows attachments such as buckets to be securely connected and detached from the telehandler arm.

In this case, a self-employed agricultural engineer had serviced the telehandler that morning, which involved removing and reattaching the bucket. However, the securing pin that holds the hitch in place was not properly reinserted, causing the bucket to detach and strike the worker.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that Grayshill Ltd, based in Glasgow, had not implemented sufficient safety measures or checked vehicles after servicing and repairs to ensure they were safe for use.

As a result, the company was found to be in breach of multiple sections of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Grayshill Ltd pleaded guilty to the breaches and was fined £80,000, in addition to a victim surcharge of £6,000, at Airdrie Sheriff Court on 28 October 2024.

HSE principal inspector Hazel Dobb said: “We thoroughly investigated this incident and found Grayshill failed to carry out the correct control measures and safe working practices at its site in Glasgow.

“The company also failed to check its vehicles after they had been serviced and repaired to ensure they were safe for use.”