Factory worker's legs crushed by 800kg steel pallet, company fined £60k

Sheffield manufacturers Amber Precast Ltd have been fined by a Magistrates’ Court after an incident that permanently disabled an employee.

Wayne Hatton (50) was working a night shift supervisor at Amber Precast Ltd’s factory in Davy Business Park on 14 January 2021. An 800kg steel pallet was being removed from a reinforced concrete cast when it fell, crushing Mr Hatton’s legs.

Mr Hatton, a father of two, spent seven weeks in hospital, where his right lower leg and two toes from his left foot were amputated. He now wears a prosthetic leg.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the pallet itself was not secured onto the lifting chains of the overhead crane before it was removed from the concrete cast.

This meant the heavy pallet was not supported whilst being moved.

Amber Precast Ltd failed to consistently implement a safe system of work for removing the pallet, HSE found. The company also failed to provide information and instructions to Mr Hatton and his team on how to remove the pallet safely.

Appearing before at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 9 January 2025, Amber Precast Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay £5,406.31 in costs.

HSE Inspector Jane Fox commented on the case:

“This incident could so easily have been avoided with the correct instruction and implementation of an agreed safe working procedure.

“Amber Precast Ltd left its employees to work out their own methods of completing the pallet removal task, instead of providing them with suitable training and equipment so it could be done safely every time.”

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