Prosecutions

A Cardiff-based recycling company has ordered to pay over £230,000 after an employee died following an incident at its premises.

The worker was employed by the recycling company when he was struck by a crane hook weighing 3.7 tonnes used to convey ladles of molten steel in the firms new 'melt' shop on 30 May 2007.

The worker suffered fatal head injuries and died later at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that while there was no mechanical defect with the crane, the hooks were able to move at head height near to operators on the ground without adequate safeguards.

This led to the HSE prosecuting the firm. The company pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 at Cardiff Crown Court. It was fined £200,000 and ordered to pay costs of £36,294.38.

After sentencing, HSE inspector Stephen Jones said:

"This was a horrific incident - an extremely heavy, moving piece of equipment was able to strike the employee directly in the head because the firm didn't have safe systems of work in place."

"The operation had recently moved to a new melt shop but while there was no mechanical defect with the crane, the company did not address the fact that the hooks were able to move at head height near to operators on the ground.

"The system of work did not enable crane operators at the site to clearly see employees working on the ground, putting them at serious risk of being struck by moving objects.

"The firm should have put in place a thorough risk assessment and most importantly acted upon that assessment, given the generally hazardous nature of this type of operation - but sadly the plans in place were just not adequate and led to this man's terrible death."