Firm fined for safety breaches after employee is crushed to death
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A Cannock engineering company must pay £60,000 after an employee was crushed to death under a plant vehicle.
Hydraline Engineering Ltd of Cannock, Staffordshire had failed to carry out proper risk assessments on equipment, Stafford Crown Court ruled.
A 46 year old worker, Mark Palmer died when a hydraulic system supporting a wheeled loader lost pressure causing the loading arm to fall and crush him.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found Hydraline had not given Palmer proper training on working with hydraulic machinery.
Hydraline was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay £20,000 costs by the court.
HSE inspector Wayne Owen said: "It is a tragedy for Mr Palmer's family that his death could have been prevented if Hydraline Engineering Ltd had taken the time to properly consider the risks."
He added: "When carrying out work under hydraulically-supported loads, it is vital that a thorough risk assessment is carried out beforehand and that suitable control measures are taken to minimise the significant dangers created by this type of work."
Hydraline Engineering pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
