Health and Safety Failings – Fertiliser Firm Fined After Worker Crushed To Death

Fertiliser Firm Fined After Worker Crushed To Death

Key Facts:

• A fertiliser firm have been fined after a worker was crushed to death whilst carrying out maintenance works on an agricultural spreader.
• HSE investigation found lack of training, supervision and a failure to implement safe systems of work.
• The firm were fined £80,000 and ordered to pay costs of £19,709.

The case:

A fertiliser firm have been prosecuted following the death of an employee in an incident in February 2013.

The employee was working as a spreader operator for the fertiliser firm when he became trapped in an agricultural spreader whilst carrying our maintenance works on the machinery. The fertiliser firm expected spreader operators to carry out maintenance on their own vehicles. The 34-year-old man was working on his vehicle whilst it was still running, and the rear wheels turned and crushed him against the vehicle’s chassis.

The subsequent HSE investigation found that the firm had failed to adequately asses the risks associated with the maintenance and had failed to ensure safe systems of work were in place. Sufficient training and supervision were not provided – something the employee had voiced concerns about in 2009, and again in 2010.

The case was heard in May 2015 where the fertiliser firm pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. They were fined £80,000 and ordered to pay costs of £19,709.

What the HSE inspector said:

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Ivan Brooke said:

“Mr Alderton’s death was entirely preventable. It is a known risk that working on machinery while it is still operating can lead to major injuries or, as in this tragic case, death. Benn Fertiliser Limited failed to properly assess those risks, put in place safe systems of work and ensure their employees were trained and properly supervised.”

What the law states:

Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states:

“It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.”

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