Bilston Textile Firm Fined £300k After Worker Seriously Injured by Vehicle

JMP Wilcox & Company Limited, a textile processing firm in Bilston, was fined £300,000 after a worker was seriously injured when struck by a telehandler while operating a ride-on electric pallet truck in March 2023. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found the company failed to properly manage vehicle movements at the factory, resulting in unsafe working conditions that put pedestrians and vehicle operators at risk. CCTV footage captured the moments before the incident, revealing poor workplace transport management and inadequate risk assessments concerning vehicle and pedestrian separation. The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was also ordered to pay costs and a victim services surcharge. HSE inspector Gail Bell emphasized the incident highlights the critical need for suitable control measures to prevent similar accidents and ensure employee safety. The case underscores the importance of rigorous workplace transport risk management to avoid serious injuries.