The fatal incident, which occurred at The British Millerain Company Limited’s warehouse in Rochdale, led investigators to identify a lack of training, the absence of a risk assessment, and the failure to implement a safe system of work.
On 22 June 2023, company director Daniel Ames volunteered to remain at the warehouse to assist with the arrival of a truck. He offered to act as a banksman to guide the vehicle into the building. During the reversing manoeuvre, the driver lost sight of him. When he got out to check, Mr Ames was found trapped between the vehicle and steel storage racks. He later died in the hospital from his injuries.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that no formal risk assessment had been carried out for this type of vehicle movement, and no structured safe system of work was in place.
Employees told investigators they had routinely assisted in reversing HGVs without receiving any training, including acting as informal banksmen or, in some cases, reversing trucks themselves.
Following the incident, the HSE served the company with an improvement notice. A risk assessment was subsequently conducted, and a new procedure was implemented that no longer involves the use of a banksman when reversing HGVs into the warehouse.
The British Millerain Company Limited, based at Unit 1 Park Mill, Buckley Road, Rochdale, pleaded guilty to breaching section 33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £220,000 and ordered to pay £5,634 in costs at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on 10 July 2025.
“This is a tragic case,” said HSE inspector Jane Carroll. “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.”
Lessons for transport and warehouse operators
The case underscores the need for logistics firms to implement formal reversing procedures and risk assessments, particularly in warehouse and depot environments where vehicle movements are frequent and visibility can be restricted.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), reversing vehicles are involved in almost a quarter of all workplace transport-related deaths. The regulator stresses that reversing should be avoided wherever possible, and where it cannot be eliminated, employers must implement effective control measures, including the use of designated, trained banksmen, clearly marked reversing areas, and vehicle technology such as cameras or sensors.
Further reading: This mistake could cost your haulage business €5,000. And Germany’s not messing around
Employers are legally required under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments for workplace activities, including vehicle movements. Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, they must also ensure employees are provided with adequate training and supervision to perform tasks safely.
The HSE’s Workplace Transport Safety guidance makes it clear that informal arrangements — such as asking untrained warehouse staff to act as banksmen — are not compliant with legal duties and significantly increase the risk of injury or death.
