Reversing HGV kills company director; British Millerain Company fined £220K
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has fined The British Millerain Company Limited £220,000 after a fatal workplace incident at the company’s warehouse on Buckley Road in Rochdale. On 22 June 2023, company director Daniel Ames was struck and fatally injured by a reversing heavy goods vehicle (HGV) while acting as a banksman.
Mr. Ames had stayed behind at the warehouse to assist with the arrival of the vehicle around 5:30 p.m. During the reversing maneuver, the driver lost sight of Mr. Ames, who was later found trapped between the vehicle and steel storage racks. He was taken to the hospital but died from his injuries.
An HSE investigation revealed that the company had no safe system of work in place for reversing vehicles and had not provided any training to employees who had been performing this task for years. Following the incident, an improvement notice was issued, and the company implemented a new system prohibiting the use of banksmen for vehicle reversing.
On 10 July 2025, The British Millerain Company Limited pleaded guilty to breaching section 33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was ordered to pay £5,634 in costs in addition to the fine.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, Jane Carroll, HSE inspector, said, “This is a tragic case. Daniel was clearly popular and respected, but his leadership and dedication to his colleagues was not properly protected by the defendant. A safe system of work was not in place. We will always take action against those who fail to protect people in work.”
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