Hermes prosecution and yard transport hazards

In March 2019, an employee named David Kennedy aged 43 was working at the Motherwell depot for the parcel delivery firm Hermes (Hermes Parcelnet Ltd are now called Evri).

Sadly, David didn’t return home safely to his family, after he became fatally crushed in the depot yard.

David was being trained how to manoeuvre a loaded trailer using a powered pedestrian operated trailer mover. As David walked backwards, he became crushed between the tiller head of the mover, and a stationary trailer.

David was taken to hospital but died of his injuries two days later. He died having suffered horrific chest injuries, including a collapsed lung, multiple rib fractures and significant internal injuries.

Having worked as a health and safety manager within the parcel industry for many years, I know from personal experience how high risk such transport yards can be, if the right health and safety controls are not put into place and are not properly managed.

It came as no surprise that Hermes were prosecuted by the Health & Safety Executive, pleaded guilty, and were fined £850,000.

I would ask transport companies to urgently look at their health and safety management systems, and to make sure they have in place a transport risk assessment that deals with, in sufficient depth, all hazards associated with yard activities.

If any business needs advice on the topic, then please do call us, we are a friendly office, and can provide you with impartial and confidential guidance – Let us not see another story in the media like David’s. Call us today on (01827) 488021.

Written by: John Carver