🧾 Disciplinary Hearing Q&A for Lynden Ford
Q1: Do you understand why health and safety is important on site?
A:
Yes — it’s about keeping everyone safe and making sure the equipment is used properly.
Q2: Do you understand that it’s your job to carry out pre-use checks before operating MHE?
A:
Yes — I’ve done them many times over the years and have always tried to carry them out properly.
Q3: Did you do a pre-op check on the truck in question on the 30th of July?
A:
Yes, I did a check that morning to the same standard I normally do. I didn’t spot anything that looked new or serious, and that’s why I ticked “No” to the damage section.
Q4: Why didn’t you report the scratches that were found later on the top of the overhead guard?
A:
Because I didn’t notice them. That was a mistake on my part — but it wasn’t intentional. That part of the truck is above my natural eyeline, and it’s an area that’s always marked on every truck we use, especially because we’re expected to use these reach trucks in aisles that are too tight.
I’ve seen marks like that for years and didn’t believe it was anything new or hazardous. If I had thought it was serious or new, I’d have reported it.
Q5: You said you did a full check — but also said you missed the top. Which is it?
A:
I did the check properly, but I clearly missed the top bar — and I’ve been honest about that from the start. I didn’t deliberately skip anything. I just didn’t see that part, and it didn’t register as new damage. A missed mark doesn’t mean I didn’t do the check — it just means I’m human.
Q6: Are you aware that two other colleagues used the truck and reported the damage, when you didn’t?
A:
Yes, I’ve been told that since — which actually shows the damage wasn’t new. If others saw it before and after me, that supports my point: I didn’t cause it. I just didn’t spot or register it at the time, and the truck was kept in service, so clearly no one thought it was a serious risk.
Q7: Are you saying you didn’t cause the damage?
A:
Yes. I didn’t cause it. I’ve said from the beginning — if I had, I’d have reported it straight away. I was only on the truck for an hour on Monday and an hour on Tuesday. I’ve been open and honest throughout.
Q8: Do you understand that you're on a final written warning already for a previous health and safety issue?
A:
Yes, I do. That’s why I’ve done everything I can since then to stay on track. I’ve taken my responsibilities seriously, and I haven’t had any issues until this.
Q9: Given that, why didn’t you follow the process perfectly?
A:
Because I’m human. I did my check, but I made a mistake — I missed an area I thought was routine and didn’t look new or serious. And to be transparent, I’d just come off the back of a funeral a couple of days earlier, and I wasn’t in the best headspace. I didn’t think I needed to take time off, but I wasn’t fully sharp. That’s not an excuse — it’s just context for why something like this could happen.
Q10: Do you accept that failing to report the damage is a breach of health and safety policy?
A:
No, I accept it was a mistake — but I don’t believe it was a health and safety breach. There was no risk created, no injury, no unsafe use of the truck. The damage was cosmetic, in a location that’s routinely marked on every truck we’ve ever used.
If that kind of mark is now being treated as a safety issue just because the trucks are new, that needs to be clearly briefed to everyone — not used to single someone out over a missed scuff.
Q11: Do you see how this could be seen as not following procedure properly?
A:
Yes — I understand how it looks, but I didn’t ignore the check or avoid doing it. I followed procedure to the best of my ability, and I’ve never had issues with my checks before. I’ve already taken this on board and will be even more thorough going forward.
Q12: Why should we believe this wasn’t deliberate or careless, given your warning?
A:
Because I’ve been honest from the start, I’ve shown I care about doing the job right, and I’ve explained the context fully. I’ve had five years with no dishonesty or serious issues apart from the previous incident, which I’ve learned from. I don’t believe this situation — missing a cosmetic mark on a well-used area — should be treated as gross misconduct or treated the same as if I’d lied or ignored a serious hazard.
Q13: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
A:
Yes — I’ve taken this seriously and owned my mistake. But I’m asking you to consider the bigger picture:
I didn’t cause the damage
I didn’t see it as new or hazardous
The truck stayed in service
And this is the kind of mark we see daily and don’t normally report — especially on overhead guards used in tight aisles.
This doesn’t justify dismissal or escalation. It’s a human oversight — and I’ve already shown I’ve learned from it.