A GWYNEDD food company has been ordered to pay over £80,000 in fines and costs for health and safety breaches after a staff member was hit by a fork lift truck, suffering serious injuries.

Harlech Foodservice Limited, which is based in Llanystumdwy, pleaded guilty to two charges of breaching health and safety regulations following the incident in 2015 when a member of staff was struck by the forks of a fork lift truck.

The company admitted failing to ensure an adequate traffic system had been put in place in a warehouse and failing to ensure the health and safety of employees at the premises.

Caernarfon magistrates heard that an accident investigation by Gwynedd Council’s Public Protection Service was launched after an employee operating a power pallet truck in the warehouse was hit by the forks of the fork lift truck on 13 August 2015. The employee suffered serious injuries in the incident.

The company was ordered by magistrates to pay fines totalling £80,000 and costs of £3,478.

Gareth Jones, the senior manager from Gwynedd Council’s environment department, said: “As is always the case, it is always disappointing to see a successful local company before the court.

“However, the council had no choice but to prosecute in this instance.

“The company had acted carelessly in terms of their safety arrangements and, as a result, an employee suffered serious injuries.

“We would note that the company fully co-operated with the council’s public protection service during the course of the investigation.

“As a council, we hope that such cases underline the importance for companies to take their responsibilities to protect the health and safety of their staff and others seriously.”

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