A distribution firm has been fined £150 000 after a judge ruled a fatal accident occurred because work pressures compromised safety.

Kevin Bolton died from internal injuries after a colleague's forklift truck reversed into him, crushing him against his own vehicle on 4 August 1996. It is believed he stepped out of his vehicle to shift a box that was in his way.

Wood Green Crown Court heard the firm, Fashion Logistics Ltd, which distributed sports clothing, became overstocked, with goods stored on the floor, creating a danger to people and vehicles. The warehouse in Enfield was laid out in narrow corridors, with the forklifts running on rails in between. There was not enough space on either side of the rails to allow a person to pass. Forklift trucks were sometimes two to an aisle, and sometimes pedestrians were in an aisle with a truck. Until the last day of the defence case, the firm denied five breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It then pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to provide a safe system of work. The judge directed the jury to find one charge not proved and three subsidiary charges remain on file.

Fining the firm £150 000 on 29 September, and imposing costs of £69000, Judge Philip Ader

said: "The pressure of work encouraged workers to break the rules. Sooner or later there would be an accident.""Health and safety is a priority that must precede profit," the Judge added. He was also critical that none of the firm's directors were present in Court.

The 3-year delay in the case reaching court was due to the Crown Prosecution Service considering a manslaughter charge, which it dropped.

Miranda Steward, Assistant Director for Environmental Services at Enfield Council, which brought the prosecution, commented that Mr Bolton's death "would not have happened if the company had applied common-sense to its operations."

A Training Company has been fined £6,000 ($9,697) for its part in an industrial accident at the Bermuda Park industrial estate that left a woman with permanent injuries.

The company pleaded guilty to four charges under health and safety regulations at a recent hearing at Nuneaton Magistrates Court. The court was told that an investigation carried out by environmental health officers from Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council had found "serious failings in safety management and practice by GATT Ltd".

On December 5, 1996, Ms Casey was one of a group of employees being trained by GATT staff to operate high leve order pickers for use in the RS Components warehouse. The accident occurred during the use of "abseilling" ropes fitted as an emergency escape device. Speaking after the case, the vice-chairman of the borough's environmental health committee, Councillor Pat Henry, commented: "GATT Ltd had not carried out risk assessments". "It had not provided its employee with the instruction, information and training necessary to enable him to safely carryout training in emergency evacuation, an activity that obviously carries with it a high degree of risk". "Unfortunately, as a consequence the young lady who was injured will carry a reminder of this incident for the rest of her life. Her life at home and work will be affected by it forever".

"I would remind all those in business to be mindful of thir responsibilities to protect the safety of not just themselves and their employees but also of anyone else who may be affected by their activities".