A Lancashire trucking company has been fined £30,000 after a 'much loved' mechanic with a 'cheeky humour' was fatally injured while repairing a 30-year-old forklift truck.
A total of eight people received his donated organs. Joseph's mother, Sue Robinson said: "Joe was a much-loved son, brother, nephew, cousin and friend. "His premature death robbed him of any opportunity of ever becoming a husband, a father or indeed growing into an old man and in turn robbed us, his family, of taking part in that journey. To lose a child is every parent’s worst nightmare and the shock and devastation we felt at his sudden death was both mind numbing and paralysing in its intensity.
No principles of working with vehicles at the site had been put in place, such as designating a safe repair area or separating pedestrians and vehicles. Had the company properly maintained the forklift truck and provided the driver with the appropriate training, this incident could have been prevented.