Workplace transport safety is a key safety hazard for any business and one of the specific items we review in detail for our Safety~net competent person support clients during any workplace audit. Its can be an area which is missed by internal teams concentrating on key safety issues within the premises which they manage, but deserves attention and resources as much as any other hazard within your workplace. Find out more below, and please get in touch to discuss how we can help and support you on this and other safety management issues.
Grocery Wholesaler Fined £1 Million After Worker Crushed by Reversing HGV
Date: 24 July 2025
Case: Bestway Northern Limited (Manchester Magistrates’ Court) fined £1 million plus £11,950 in costs
Incident date: 19 February 2019
Victim: Lee Warburton, 53, from Stockport
Tragic accident claimed the life of an experienced banksman
Lee Warburton, a father of three, was acting as a banksman during a delivery in central Manchester when he was crushed between a reversing HGV and a wall, sustaining fatal crush injuries (HSE Media Centre). Despite years of experience, simple guidance failed catastrophically, with Lee’s partner describing the moment she informed their children: “their daddy was never coming home” (HSE Media Centre).
Investigation reveals systemic failures
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Bestway Northern Limited had no safe system of work in place for vehicle movements, lacked proper risk assessments, and had not provided banksman training (HSE Media Centre). Courts heard evidence that those shortcomings directly contributed to the fatal incident.
Legal outcome
Bestway Northern Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined a total of £1 million and ordered to pay prosecution costs amounting to £11,950.07 at a hearing on 18 July 2025 at Manchester Magistrates’ Court (HSE Media Centre).
HSE inspector issues warning
HSE Inspector Jane Carroll stated:
“The company had failed to implement a safe system of work … exposing employees and others to the risk of being struck or caught by workplace vehicles. Nearly a quarter of all deaths involving workplace transport occur during reversing, most of which can be avoided by taking simple precautions” (HSE Media Centre).
Impact on family
Lee’s partner, Hayley Tomlinson, spoke powerfully about the long‑lasting grief:
“It broke my children’s spirits; they lost the sparkle in their eyes… Lee was their hero.”
“Nothing compares to the moment I had to tell our children their daddy was never coming home.” (HSE Media Centre)
The emotional consequences—especially on his daughters—highlight the human cost behind a preventable workplace incident.
Key lessons for employers and safety professionals
| Lesson | Insight |
|---|---|
| Risk assessments must be task‑specific | In this case, failure to assess reversing vehicle hazards proved fatal |
| Safe systems of work (SSoW) are non‑negotiable | Directing vehicle movements without formal procedures is unsafe |
| Proper training for banksmen and drivers | Informal training is not sufficient for critical manoeuvres |
| Use of reversing aids | Cameras, proximity sensors, exclusion zones and banksman protocols must be applied consistently |
Final thoughts
This tragic case serves as a powerful reminder: reversing HGVs present a high fatality risk. The impact of Lee Warburton’s death has resonated far beyond his workplace, touching the lives of his family forever. As HSE emphasises, many such incidents are avoidable with robust systems, proper training and simple precautions.
For every business with vehicle operations, now is the time to review your safety protocols—and ensure no one is put in harm’s way again.
