The Royal Mail’s fine has been reduced after the death of one of its employees in September 2006. Colin Smith, 57, died at Royal Mail’s distribution Centre in Heathrow, after being crushed between a trailer and a tractor. The driver of the tractor was reversing to line it up with a trailer unit in a loading bay when he stopped the vehicle to answer a call. After the call he continued to reverse the tractor and was unaware that Mr Smith had approached the trailer because he was standing in his blind spot.

 Two Improvement Notices have been given to the Royal Mail. The notices require Royal Mail to carry out a new risk assessment for pedestrian activity and review its management systems for controlling access to trailers.

Karl Howes, an inspector for the HSE, said: “This was a tragic accident, which could have been easily prevented if Royal Mail had exercised proper control of vehicle activities at the Heathrow distribution centre. The company failed to adequately assess the risk to shutters working in the yard or to identify and rectify the unsafe system, and this contributed to Mr Smith’s death.”

Royal Mail Group Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the HSWA 1974 in court on 10 March. It was fined £90,000 and ordered to pay £42,549 in costs.