A law firm says it is representing the family of Daniel Ames in a civil negligence compensation claim
Daniel Ames(Image: HSE)
The family of a textile company director who was tragically knocked down and killed at work by a reversing HGV is taking legal action for compensation.
A law firm says it is representing the family of Daniel Ames in a ‘civil negligence compensation claim’ against his former company, Rochdale-based British Millerain.
As reported, the company has now been fined £220,000 after an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive led to a prosecution.
Mr Ames was a director there and had volunteered to stay behind on the night to wait for the HGV to return, the HSE said in a statement. He offered to act as a ‘banksman’ to help the driver reverse safely into the warehouse.
But the HSE said that during the manoeuvre, the driver lost sight of Mr Ames and when he got out of the cab to check, he found him trapped between the HGV and a row of steel storage racking. Paramedics were called, but he was sadly pronounced dead later in hospital. The tragedy happened at around 5.30pm on June 22, 2023.
Mr Ames was a director of the company(Image: HSE/Google)
The incident was reported to the HSE, which went on to carry out an investigation that identified ‘a number of failings exposing employees to various risks, including having no safe system in place for reversing HGVs’, it said in a statement.
The British Millerain Company Ltd, based on Buckley Road, Rochdale, pleaded guilty to breaching a section of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The firm was also ordered to pay costs of £5,634 at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court on July 10.
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Industrial accident specialist partner Jon Andrews, of Express Solicitors, said the firm was representing the family in a civil negligence compensation claim against his former company.
The action follows the HSE prosecution.
British Millerain(Image: HSE/Google)
Mr Andrews said: “This was a senseless and tragic accident that should never have happened and was entirely preventable. Workplaces need to make sure they look after their employees and protect them from harm at all times.
“We are now taking action against his former company on behalf of the family as Daniel was the main breadwinner and we will be helping to secure their financial future.”
In a statement issued by the law firm, Daniel’s family said: “He got on well with all his colleagues at work and had a great career. He was a respected professional who loved his job, was well known in the industry and was excited for his future. But that was taken away from us all in an instant.
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“He was a real family man with a great sense of humour who was always making people smile and laugh and he enjoyed life to the full. We all miss him so much.”
After the sentencing hearing, HSE inspector Jane Carroll said: “Daniel was clearly popular and respected, but his leadership and dedication to his colleagues was not properly protected by the defendant. A safe system of work was not in place. We will always take action against those who fail to protect people in work.”
The M.E.N. has contacted the company for comment.