Farm owner fined after roofer’s fatal fall from a forklift

Farm owner fined after roofer’s fatal fall from a forklift

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Farm owner fined after roofer’s fatal fall from a forklift

A Cheshire farm owner has been fined after a man fell to his death from a forklift truck while attempting to repair the roof of a packing shed at his premises in Tarporley.

Denis Thornhill and his company D.S. Thornhill (Rushton) Limited were fined a combined £16,000 after 64-year-old Mark Young was killed at Moss Hall Farm on 1 February 2021.

 

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Earlier this year, both Thornhill and the company been found guilty of breaching health and safety legislation following a six-week trial at Chester Crown Court. The jury cleared 78-year-old Thornhill on a charge of gross negligence manslaughter. They returned to the same court on 11 October 2024 to be sentenced.

During the trial, the court was told that on 29 January 2021, Mr Young, who worked as a roofer, had been asked to make repairs to a roof panel and fix a blocked gutter on the same building. However, as he was walking across the roof, he damaged a second roof panel so a replacement was purchased to carry out an additional repair.

He returned with his son three days later to complete the work and asked to be raised up to do it. Denis Thornhill arrived with a forklift truck that had a potato box balanced on its forks. Mr Young was lifted up inside the potato box to a height of around 16 feet, while his son, who was on the roof, attempted to reposition the panel from above. As Mr Young moved to one side of the potato box, it caused it to overbalance and he fell to the floor sustained serious head injuries.

Although paramedics were called, they were unable to resuscitate him and he was pronounced deceased at the scene.

HSE Inspector Ian Betley said after the hearing: “This was a tragic incident that could so easily have been avoided.

“The forklift truck and potato box were the wrong pieces of equipment for the job and never a suitable platform for working at height. The work should instead have been carried out using a tower scaffold, scissor lift, or a cherry picker.

“In bringing the forklift truck and potato box and using it to lift Mark at height, the company was in control of the work but had failed to implement proper planning and safe execution of it.

“All companies have a legal duty to ensure the safety of workers they employ or who carry out work for them. If that had happened in this case, then Mark’s life wouldn’t have been lost.”

A joint investigation by Cheshire Constabulary and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that on the day of the accident there was no safe system of work implemented for working at height and unsuitable work equipment was used. The potato box did not have the required safety features for a non-integrated work platform and had not been secured in a way to prevent it overbalancing.

Additionally, the forklift truck had not been subjected to a thorough examination at the required frequency and was unsuitable for lifting people and Denis Thornhill was not formally trained in operating the forklift truck. Enforcement action was taken and a Prohibition Notice was served on the company prohibiting further work until a safe system was devised.

Make sure anyone who operates your forklift trucks are properly trained with our accredited RTITB forklift courses.

 

Contact us on 01793 975353 or office@keyperformancetraining.co.uk for more information about how we can help or to book your course today.

 

Need more information?

For more information please do get in touch – via our contacts page, email us or just give us a call on 01793 975353

New MHE Incident Investigation eLearning

New MHE Incident Investigation eLearning

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New MHE Incident Investigation eLearning

We are delighted to be able to bring you RTITB’s new MHE Incident Investigation eLearning course. 

This course is designed to get to the root cause of incidents in the workplace involving Manual Handling Equipment and will give you the confidence to uncover real issues and implement meaningful fixes.

 

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In the event of a Materials Handling Equipment (MHE) incident, your investigations should never just be about ticking the compliance box! When done right, an incident investigation should get to the root cause of incidents, so you can take steps to prevent them in future.

If you’re ready to develop safer, more efficient ways of working by improving your investigations, our new cost-effective eLearning solution is ideal for you.

The new eLearning course is for anyone involved in health and safety and incident investigations. It can also be used to help warehouse operatives, supervisors, Instructors, and lift truck operators to gain a better understanding of investigations.

To find out more about this, contact us today

The advantages of eLearning

RTITB’s eLearning platform enables you to use it anytime, anywhere.  Simply log on to the secure eLearning platform, anytime, to complete the self-paced training in a time and cost effective way.

Modules include:

  1. Introduction to MHE investigation
  2. Human factors in MHE incidents
  3. Root cause analysis
  4. Steps to effective MHE investigation
  5. Identifying risk reduction/control measures
  6. Applying learning

So reduce future risks, support workplace safety, and boost compliance with RTITB Materials Handling Equipment Incident Investigation eLearning now.

 

Contact us on 01793 975353 or office@keyperformancetraining.co.uk for more information about how we can help or to book your course today.

 

Need more information?

For more information please do get in touch – via our contacts page, email us or just give us a call on 01793 975353

Top Tips To Support Your Mental Health At Work

Top Tips To Support Your Mental Health At Work

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Top Tips To Support Your Mental Health At Work

It was World Mental Health Day on Thursday 10th October, so we wanted to share some practical, evidence-based tips from the UK Mental Health Foundation, on how to look after yourself in the workplace.

 

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    1. Talk about your feelings
    2. Be mindful of activity levels
    3. Eat well
    4. Drink sensibly
    5. Manage your relationships
    6. Ask for help
    7. Take a break
    8. Do something you’re good at
    9. Accept who you are
    10. Care for others
    1. Talk about your feelings

    Talking about your feelings can help you maintain your mental health and deal with times when you feel troubled.  It isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s part of taking charge of your wellbeing and doing what you can to stay healthy.

    It can be hard to talk about feelings at work. If you have colleagues you can talk to, or a manager who asks how you are at supervision sessions, it can really help. Identify someone you feel comfortable with and who will be supportive. You may want to think about what you want to disclose, who to and when a good time and place to do this could be.

    If you are open about how you feel at work, especially if you are a leader, it might encourage others to do the same. If you don’t feel able to talk about feelings at work, make sure there’s someone you can discuss work pressures with.  Partners, friends and family can all be a sounding board.

    1. Be mindful of your activity levels

    Regular exercise can boost your self-esteem and can help you concentrate, sleep, and generally feel better. Exercising doesn’t just mean doing sport or going to the gym. Experts say that most adults should do some form of physical activity every day.

    Try to make physical activity that you enjoy a part of your day. If you work in an office it can make a huge difference to get out for a walk or do a class at lunchtime, or to build in exercise before or after work to ease you into the day or create a space between work time and personal time.

    If you have a physical job, you may already be very active in your day-to-day life. You may find that your job exacerbates or creates physical health problems, which may also affect your mental health. You may need to speak to your manager and Occupational Health to see if any changes can be made to your working practices.

    1. Eat well

    What we eat can affect how we feel both immediately and in the longer term. A balanced diet with lots of vegetables and fruit is essential for good physical and mental health.

    It can be hard to keep up a healthy pattern of eating at work. Regular meals, plus plenty of water, are ideal. Try and plan for mealtimes at work – bringing food from home or choosing healthy options when buying lunch.

    Try and get away from your desk to eat. You could try a lunch club at work – where you club together to share meals and try new things.

    For busy times, or times when you are feeling low or stressed, try reducing or giving up caffeine and refined sugar. Make sure there is a ready supply of fruit/vegetables and snacks like nuts or trail mix that provides ready nutrients.

    Be aware that some people find public eating at work very stressful because of past or current eating disorders – so if someone doesn’t want to come to work dinners, or makes different food choices in the office, don’t pass comment or put pressure on them to join in.

    1. Drink sensibly

    We often drink alcohol to change our mood. Some people drink to deal with fear or loneliness, but the effect is only temporary.

    Most people don’t drink at work – but most of us recognise the pattern of drinking more at the weekend or in the evening when work is hard going.

    Be careful with work functions that include drinking. It can be tempting to have a drink to get ‘Dutch courage’, but if you feel anxious you may drink too much and end up behaving in a way you’d rather not, which will increase feelings of anxiety in the medium to long term.

    1. Manage your relationships

    Relationships are key to our mental health. Working in a supportive team is hugely important for our mental health at work. We don’t always have a choice about who we work with, and if we don’t get on with managers, colleagues or clients, it can create tension. It may be that you need to practice more self-care at these times, but you may also need to address difficulties.

    Work politics can be a real challenge when we have mental health problems. It can be helpful to find a mentor or a small group of trusted colleagues with whom you can discuss feelings about work – to sense check and help you work through challenges.

    Try and make sure you maintain your friendships and family relationships even when work is intense – a work–life balance is important, and experts now understand that social isolation is a powerful predictor of poor physical and mental health.

    1. Ask for help

    None of us are superhuman. We all sometimes get tired or overwhelmed by how we feel or when things don’t go to plan.

    Your employer may have an Employee Assistance programme.  These services are confidential and can be accessed free and in confidence.

    You may also be able to access occupational health support through your line manager or HR service.

    The first port of call in the health service is your GP. 40% of visits to GPs are about mental health. Your GP may suggest ways that you or your family can help you, or they may refer you to a specialist or another part of the health service. Your GP may be able to refer you to a counsellor.

    1. Take a break

    A change of scene or a change of pace is good for your mental health. It could be a five-minute pause from what you are doing, a book or podcast during the commute, a half-hour lunch break at work, or a weekend exploring somewhere new. A few minutes can be enough to de- stress you.

    Give yourself some ‘me time’. If your employer offers mental health days – discretionary leave to look after your wellbeing – take these, and make sure you use them well.

    Sleep is essential to our mental health. Listen to your body. Without good sleep, our mental health suffers and our concentration goes downhill. Getting good sleep can be particularly difficult if you work in shift patterns or irregular hours.

    It can be hard to take holidays and time off from work. When we are stressed, it can seem even harder to take the breaks we are entitled to – when we need them most. Try and plan periods of leave for the year so that you always have a break to look forward to. When you are on leave or at home, resist the temptation to check in with work.

    If you find that you can’t break away, it may be a sign that you should be re-examining your workload to manage stress.

    1. Do something you’re good at

    What do you love doing? What activities can you lose yourself in? What did you love doing in the past? Enjoying yourself can help beat stress. Doing an activity you enjoy probably means you’re good at it, and achieving something boosts your self-esteem.

    Concentrating on a hobby, like gardening or doing crosswords, can help you forget your worries for a while and can change your mood.

    When you feel stressed, it can be easy to forget your talents or fall foul of imposter syndrome (where you feel like a fraud, or that you don’t deserve your successes). If possible, you should plan your workload to include tasks you know you are good at, so as to ‘sandwich’ things you know will be harder or more stressful.

    At work, you may have a hobby you’d like to share or join in with colleagues on – a work cycling club, book group or crafting group can be a great way to share a skill with others.

    1. Accept who you are

    We’re all different. It’s much healthier to accept that you’re unique than to wish you were more like someone else. Feeling good about yourself boosts your confidence to learn new skills, visit new places and make new friends.  Good self-esteem helps you cope when life takes a difficult turn.

    Be proud of who you are. Recognise and accept the things you may not be good at, but also focus on what you can do well. If there’s anything about yourself you would like to change, are your expectations realistic? If they are, work towards the change in small steps.

    Self-acceptance and self-care can be very hard when you have a mental health problem – an ongoing challenge people need to work on.

    It can be tempting to invest everything in building self-esteem around work success. That can mean that people with mental health problems give everything at work and are high achievers. It also creates a risk that when things go wrong, when mistakes are made, or when change is necessary, people may take it personally.

    Mindfulness is a form of meditation that involves paying deliberate attention to what is happening, as it happens. Mindfulness practice can help us to be more present with ourselves, our work, and our families. It can help us feel more connected, take stock, and be compassionate to ourselves and others.

    1. Care for others

    Caring for others is often an important part of keeping up relationships with people close to you.

    Working life can provide opportunities to care for others – contributing through vocational jobs like nursing or care work can be hugely significant for mental health.  Working in caring based industries may mean you need additional support from friends, family, and your employer in managing the emotions involved in caring.

    In other jobs, you can choose to be there for colleagues – either as a team-mate, or as a line manager, when strategies like coaching and training are good ways to support others.

    Helping can make us feel needed and valued, and that boosts our self-esteem. Volunteering can be hugely rewarding, and it helps us to see the world from another angle. This can help to put our own problems into perspective. Many companies have volunteering opportunities and Corporate Social Responsibility programmes that enable staff to get involved in community work.

    Caring responsibilities at home can be hugely rewarding to us, but also a source of stress. Our roles as parents, or carers for relatives, can collide with our work identities. Carers are at greater risk of developing mental health problems and employers should be mindful of the challenges that carers may face with their schedules and additional responsibilities.

    Workplaces that support flexible working, carers’ leave, childcare voucher schemes and other initiatives to support caring roles can have a big impact on staff mental health and productivity.

    We hope you’ve found these tips useful and if you know anyone who might be struggling, share these practical tips with them – they’ll know that you care and that act in itself could start a conversation that would otherwise not have happened.

    Would you like to know more about what to do if someone if someone appears to be struggling?  Then please see our Mental Health First Aid At Work course information here.

Our next course is running on Friday 25th October and for every booking, we will support the UK Mental Health Foundation with their fundraising efforts and will donate Mental Health First Aider pin badges to everyone who attends our next Mental Health First Aid Course.  We’ll also donate 10% of that course’s bookings to the UK Mental Health Foundation.

There are things we can all do to help create a mentally healthy workplace that supports open conversations. We can all learn how to confidently talk about mental health with our colleagues and make a difference.

 

Contact us on 01793 975353 or office@keyperformancetraining.co.uk for more information about how we can help or to book your course today.

 

Need more information?

For more information please do get in touch – via our contacts page, email us or just give us a call on 01793 975353

Why Mental Health First Aid Training is good for your business

Why Mental Health First Aid Training is good for your business

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Why Mental Health First Aid Training is

good for your business

With World Mental Health Day next week on Thursday 10th October, we thought we’d focus on this year’s theme “It’s time to prioritise mental health in the workplace’.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training can be highly beneficial for businesses, and here’s why:

 

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  1. Promotes a Healthy Work Environment:

MHFA training equips employees with the knowledge and skills to support colleagues experiencing mental health challenges, helping to create a supportive and empathetic workplace culture.

It reduces the stigma surrounding mental health issues, making it easier for employees to talk about their struggles and seek help when needed.

  1. Enhances Employee Well-being:

Employees trained in MHFA can identify early signs of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, or stress. This can lead to early intervention and support, preventing more severe issues down the line.

Supporting mental health improves overall employee well-being, which leads to better job satisfaction and employee engagement.

  1. Improves Productivity and Reduces Absenteeism:

When employees feel supported, they are more likely to remain engaged and productive.

Early support can prevent absenteeism caused by untreated mental health issues, reducing the overall costs associated with sick leave and reduced productivity.

  1. Reduces Risk and Liability:

MHFA training helps identify situations where employees may be at risk of harm to themselves or others. This ensures that appropriate steps can be taken to mitigate risks.

Organisations that prioritise mental health are less likely to face legal issues related to workplace mental health crises.

  1. Boosts Employee Retention and Recruitment:

Companies that demonstrate a commitment to mental health and employee support are more attractive to potential hires.

A mentally healthy workplace is more likely to retain employees, reducing turnover and the associated recruitment costs.

  1. Supports Managers and HR Teams:

MHFA training provides managers and HR professionals with practical tools to handle sensitive conversations about mental health, respond effectively, and direct employees to appropriate resources.

  1. Aligns with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR):

Prioritising mental health is a sign of a socially responsible business, showing that the company cares about its employees’ overall well-being.

This can enhance the company’s reputation both internally and externally, resonating positively with customers, stakeholders, and the community.

Overall, incorporating Mental Health First Aid training into a business strategy not only enhances the well-being and safety of employees but also contributes to a more positive, productive, and sustainable work environment.

Support a great cause and make a difference in your workplace.

If you want to make your workplace a healthier place for staff, or if you want to gain the key skills to help someone experiencing a mental health crisis, then please book with us on our next Mental Health First Aid Course, which is running on Friday 25th October.

Please see our course information here.

For every booking, we will support the UK Mental Health Foundation with their fundraising efforts and will donate Mental Health First Aider pin badges to everyone who attends our next Mental Health First Aid Course.  We’ll also donate 10% of that course’s bookings to the UK Mental Health Foundation.

There are things we can all do to help create a mentally healthy workplace that supports open conversations. We can all learn how to confidently talk about mental health with our colleagues and make a difference.

 

Contact us on 01793 975353 or office@keyperformancetraining.co.uk for more information about how we can help or to book your course today.

 

Need more information?

For more information please do get in touch – via our contacts page, email us or just give us a call on 01793 975353

Why Mental Health First Aid Training is good for your business

World Mental Health Day 2024

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World Mental Health Day 2024

Did you know that it’s World Mental Health Day on Thursday 10th October? This day is about raising awareness and funds to drive positive change for everyone’s mental health.

The theme for 2024, set by the World Federation of Mental Health (WFMH), is ‘It’s time to prioritise mental health in the workplace’ – something we’ve been championing for some time now.

 

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The theme this year highlights the importance of addressing mental health and wellbeing in the workplace, for the benefit of people, organisations, and communities.

Work can have a huge impact on our mental health. It can be good for our mental health, giving us a sense of purpose, boosting our self-worth, and providing opportunities to connect with others. But it can also be a source of stress and anxiety and contribute to developing or worsening mental health problems.

Did you know?

  • 15% of UK workers are estimated to have an existing mental health condition
  • 875,000 workers suffered from work-related stress, depression and anxiety in 2022/23
  • The 5th most common reason for sickness absence in 2022 was mental health.

Many people spend a lot of their time working, whether that’s in the community, in an office, a workshop, at home, or many other workplaces.

That’s why it’s so important that our workplace supports our mental health, helping us get the mental health benefits of work while reducing the negative impact.

But what is a mentally healthy workplace?

There are many things that contribute to a mentally healthy workplace, from providing staff training on mental health to tackling discrimination and bullying. Importantly, a mentally healthy workplace supports open conversations about mental health.

While talking about mental health in the workplace has become more common, many people still face stigma when it comes to severe mental health problems.

This means there’s more work to be done to tackle mental health stigma in the workplace.

If you want to make your workplace a healthier place for staff, or if you want to gain the key skills to help someone experiencing a mental health crisis, then please book with us on our next Mental Health First Aid Course, which is running on Friday 25th October.

Please see our course information here.

For every booking, we will support the UK Mental Health Foundation with their fundraising efforts and will donate Mental Health First Aider pin badges to everyone who attends our next Mental Health First Aid Course.  We’ll also donate 10% of that course’s bookings to the UK Mental Health Foundation.

There are things we can all do to help create a mentally healthy workplace that supports open conversations. We can all learn how to confidently talk about mental health with our colleagues and make a difference.

 

Contact us on 01793 975353 or office@keyperformancetraining.co.uk for more information about how we can help or to book your course today.

 

Need more information?

For more information please do get in touch – via our contacts page, email us or just give us a call on 01793 975353

How our forklift training supports diverse operator needs

How our forklift training supports diverse operator needs

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How our forklift training supports

diverse operator needs

An estimated 79,000 EU workers left the logistics industry in 2020. And skills and labour shortages continue. For example, a recent search on recruitment site Indeed showed 3,730 forklift operator vacancies.

Candidates are clearly needed to fill these roles, which is making employers look to a more diverse talent pool. As operator candidates change, operator training must adapt too.

It’s estimated that around 300,000 disabled people were unemployed in 2019 and that the employment rate for people with disabilities in 2019 was 53.2%, compared to 81.8% for non-disabled people. This indicates a significant employment gap​. So, there are many differently-abled individuals who could work if adjustments are provided.

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In the past, lift truck operator training has not catered for those with diverse needs, such as physical, developmental, neurological, learning, and sensory differences, or chronic and invisible illnesses or mental health issues. It has often been presumed to be too difficult.

However, at Key Performance Training, we can easily put reasonable adjustments in place for candidates.  Our instructors can discuss reasonable adjustments with delegates, and this helps prevent those with additional needs from being at a disadvantage during training.

How we are widening opportunities for lift truck operators

Our industry’s need for skilled workers presents a unique opportunity; a chance to broaden the talent pool and to create a more inclusive workforce.

With our adapted lift truck operator training, we can accommodate diverse needs. Let’s bridge the employment gap for disabled individuals and others.

Here are four ways that we have tailored forklift operator training to be more inclusive.

Knowledgeable Lift Truck Instructors

The right operator training starts with the right Instructors. Our instructors have awareness of the diverse needs of candidates and part of their training is a focus on reasonable adjustments. This gives our instructors up to date knowledge of how to cater for differences in learners.

The classroom

Reasonable adjustments can be made to course materials and assessments.

For example, for candidates with dyslexia, we can change the typeface of course material or give extra time for assessments for those with certain needs. We might conduct a forklift operator theory test as an oral, rather than a written exam, and some candidates may need additional breaks or rest time.

Classroom assistants may be helpful to support candidates in some cases – either due to learning difficulties or because English is not their first language. Other candidates may be accompanied by a support worker or social worker.

Accessible practical forklift training

Firstly, candidates with mobility issues can access our physical training location. We have all our training on the ground floor and have accessible toilet facilities.

Getting in and out of lift trucks can be challenging for those with mobility issues. Our truck seats have adjustable features for height, tilt, and lumbar support requirements.

Forklift controls can also be modified to support operators with limited hand mobility. We have a hand-operated control for throttle, brake, and other functions, which can help and there are also custom grips available that would help learners with grip strength issues.

Optional extras, such as orthopaedic cushions, can provide additional support for hip and back problems.

Harness technology to promote inclusion

Candidates with reduced vision can be supported by cameras, and proximity sensors, alongside more traditional solutions, such as enhanced mirrors or lighting.

Those with hearing difficulties can benefit from tech too like visual indicator lights for various functions and alerts. Our instructors may also consider the use of signals.

As you can see, with a few minor reasonable adjustments, we can support those who would like to operate a forklift.

If you’re interested in becoming a forklift driver, please see our course here and let us help you into a rewarding career.

 

Contact us on 01793 975353 or office@keyperformancetraining.co.uk for more information about how we can help or to book your course today.

 

Need more information?

For more information please do get in touch – via our contacts page, email us or just give us a call on 01793 975353

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