After receiving a delivery at one of our sites the delivery driver trapped their finger between the rear of their vehicle and the tail lift sustaining an amputation to their little finger.

The control cord for operating the tail lift was damaged and it is assumed that the driver was attempting to override the tail lift controls to raise the tail lift, as can be seen by the piece of wire in the socket.

The incident was caused by the driver not following his own employer’s safe system of work. This serves as a good example of how dangerous it can be to try and attempt to override a system, just to get a task complete.

• If plant and equipment is defective, then:
  
  
  
  • ·         Stop work
  
  
  • ·         Quarantine the item to prevent its use
  
  
  • ·         Report to line manager, for item to be repaired
  
  
  
  


• Do not attempt a local fix, just to get the job done.


• Only repair plant and equipment if you are qualified and approved to undertake the repair