Royal Mail charged over death

Royal Mail faces prosecution after the death of a man who was crushed by a lorry at a depot in Reading.

Royal Mail faces prosecution after the death of a man who was crushed by a lorry at a depot in Reading.

Driver Colin Smith died on 5 September 2006, when he was on shunting duties at the Heathrow Worldwide Distribution Depot. He was crushed between a parked trailer and a tractor unit.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced Royal Mail, Smith’s employer, will face two charges. The first is for an alleged breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act for failing to ensure the safety of employees and provide a safe place and safe systems of work. The second charge is for failing to undertake a suitable and sufficient safety risk assessment.

HSE will be also be prosecuting the driver of the vehicle involved for an alleged failure to take reasonable care for the safety of himself and a work colleague.

The Communication Workers’ Union has been working to improve safety standards at the yard since the accident.

The date of the hearing has yet to be decided.