Safety failing led to man losing leg at JLR, trial told

SAFETY failings left a worker needing to have part of his leg amputated after a forklift truck accident at Jaguar Land Rover, a court was told.

- CARL JACKSON

Kevin McGunnigle, 57, was tasked with moving large pipes from a storage area referred to as 'the graveyard' at the plant in Lode Lane, Solihull, on August 13, 2020.

But as he walked alongside a forklift truck which was moving them, his leg became trapped beneath the vehicle, a Birmingham Crown Court jury heard.

Project manager Gordon Wellings, 66, of Ombersley, Droitwich, denies a health and safety offence of failing in his duty of care to Mr McGunnigle.

Ben Mills, prosecuting, said in August 2020 Mr McGunnigle was a pipe fitter working in a team on a 'busy construction project,' installing high-level pipework for a new Range Rover production line.

"Mr Wellings was Mr McGunnigle's project manager in control of the work.

"So it was Mr Wellings who had legal responsibility to make sure he planned the work and managed the work all of his team were being asked to do, to ensure all of his team were not being put at the risk of harm."