A TRANSPORT company has been fined £400,000 after one of its drivers was killed near Salisbury.

On November 16 2020, Robert Gifkins, who worked for Arnold Laver & Company Ltd, died after he was knocked off his trailer while loading and unloading it.

Mr Gifkins was delivering timber to a company in Whaddon and climbed onto the bed of his trailer to sling the load and attach it to the vehicle-mounted crane.

While moving the load using the crane’s remote control, he was struck by the crane and fell from the vehicle to the ground.

He was taken to Salisbury District Hospital and died on December 17, 2020.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the incident was the result of health and safety failings by the company.

Arnold Laver had not provided Mr Gifkins with sufficient training on how to safely use the remote crane controls.

Additionally, the risks associated with working at the height had not been properly assessed and the risk of falls had not been adequately prevented or controlled.

At a sentencing hearing at Salisbury Magistrates’ Court on 13 October, Arnold Laver pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Today (November 9) the company was fined £400,000 and ordered to pay costs of £19,841.99.

'I miss him every day'

In a personal statement from the victim's family, his mother Betty Gifkins said: “The pain of losing a son is only made worse by the fact this is the second son I have lost.

"I try not to think of him in the hospital as this only adds to my sadness. I miss him every day.”

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Leo Diez said: “Falls from vehicles can be overlooked by employers when considering risks from work at height.

"Simple control measures would have prevented this accident."

Arnold Laver & Company Ltd has been approached for a comment.