A SKIP-RENTAL firm has been found guilty of a health-and-safety offence after a runaway truck injured the director of the company.
Paul Skinner, the director of Skinner Skips, who was the victim of the accident, appeared – using a crutch – in court to defend the firm.
Skinner Skips was convicted in the Royal Court this week for failing to provide adequate health-and-safety training, specific risk assessments or appropriate supervision and being in breach of the 1989 Health and Safety Law.
The court heard that, on 13 October 2022, Mr Skinner, along with two employees, conducted repairs on a truck’s brakes in the company’s workshop at Bradford Farm in St Peter.
After testing the brakes, Mr Skinner left the engine running and the vehicle in gear but did not engage the handbrake when he lowered the truck. He then ran after the truck and jumped in to stop it after it began moving.
But he did not manage to get into the cab in time, and injured his leg when the vehicle hit another truck that was in its path.
Mr Skinner’s leg was trapped by the cab door and, when one of his employees managed to open the door, the director fell to the ground, and had to receive treatment from paramedics.
Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae was presiding. He was joined by two Jurats, the Lieutenant-Bailiff, Robert Christensen and Michael Berry. A sentencing date will be set at a hearing.
