A Huntingdon firm has been fined £1million by a court after a delivery driver was fatally injured on its premises.

Glynwed Pipe Systems Ltd, based in St Peter’s Road, was hit with the fine at Cambridge Crown Court following a prosecution brought by the Health and Safety Executive.

Gareth Wilson, a delivery driver working for Mark Doel Transport Ltd, was fatally injured when he was struck by a fork lift truck which had large coils suspended from its forks, the crown court heard.

Following the incident, an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found Glywed Pipe Systems failed to properly manage workplace transport in the yard area where members of the public and employees were exposed to the risk of being hit.

The investigation also found that the systems of work in place were not safe.

The firm, which manufactures plastic piping, fittings and accessories, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £1million by the court.

The firm was also ordered to pay costs of £27,942.57.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Roxanne Barker said: “There are more than 5,000 accidents involving transport in the workplace every year, and, like in this case, sadly some of which are fatal.

“The HSE investigation found the yard was not organised to allow safe circulation of people and traffic as appropriate routes were not identified and therefore insufficient in number.

“A properly implemented traffic management plan should have identified sufficient measures for the separation of vehicles and people including protected walkways, clear signage and barriers.”

The Hunts Post contacted Glynwed Pipe Systems but the firm declined to comment.