British Airways has been fined £1.8 million after an employee was crushed by a loaded baggage tug, leaving her seriously injured at Heathrow Airport in March 2018.
She was hit by a passing baggage tug loaded with luggage at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 when she was walking in the centre of a roadway used by tugs in the baggage hall, according to Southwest Crown Court.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive discovered that the centre of the roadway was being used as a walking route for at least 10-years. An HSE spokesperson said that it was an unsafe practice.
“The situation in the baggage hall at Heathrow Terminal 5 was an incident waiting to happen,” said HSE inspector Megan Carr.
According to the Health and Safety Executive, the investigation also discovered notable failures in the general management of health and safety and workplace transport risks.
“British Airways failed to appreciate the serious nature of the risks to which its employees were exposed and as a result failed to take appropriate action to ensure they were properly protected.”
British Airways was fined £1.8 million for breaking the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. In addition, the airline was also ordered to pay £35,724.
