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Firm admits blame for pallet death
Page 7
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A COMPANY HAS admitted blame for the death of a 61-yearold HGV driver.
Kevin Hicks, a father of two from Cambridgeshire, died after a pallet loaded with boxes fell on top of him.The Pallet Network, of Wigston. Leicestershire, pleaded guilty before Leicester magistrates to failing to fulfil its safety duties.
Hicks suffered serious head injuries as the pallets fell. Despite being rushed to hospital, he died of his injuries three months after the accident happened in November 2002.
In line with The Pallet Network's guidelines Hicks who was not a Pallet Network employee was inspecting freight being loaded onto his HGV by a forklift truck, when the load began to wobble. He tried to steady it. but was knocked to the floor and the load fell on top of him.
Magistrates were told by the Health & Safety Executive that the company did not have adequate safety controls, despite a number of accidents involving loads.
Alexander Ante Ime, on behalf of The Pallet Network, said: "The defence has accepted its failing. It understands and regrets enormously the tragic consequences of this lapse in health and safety.
The case will now go to Crown Court.