Firms fined following death at sugar factory
A
HSE Health and Safety Executive product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Feb 23, 2005
Fines totalling GBP650,000 have been imposed on two companies following the death of a woman at a British Sugar plc factory.
Fines totalling GBP650,000 have been imposed on two companies following the death of a woman at a British Sugar plc factory.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted British Sugar plc and contractor VM Plant at Bury St Edmunds Crown Court after dispatch clerk Lorraine Waspe was killed on 5 February 2003.
The 40-year-old British Sugar employee was run-over by a shovelling vehicle at the firm's factory in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.
British Sugar admitted failing to ensure that Lorraine Waspe and other workers were not exposed to risks to their safety and thereby breaching Section 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act (HSWA) 1974 and was fined GBP300,000.
The company was also fined GBP100,000 for failing to ensure that workplace transport was operated safely at the site.
In particular, it failed to segregate pedestrians from areas where vehicles were in operation adequately, and was ordered to pay GBP31,457 costs.
Cambridge-based contractor VM Plant , which owned and operated the shovelling vehicle involved in the accident,was found guilty and fined GBP250,000 for failing to ensure the health and safety of employees and people not in its employment.
In particular, the court heard that VM Plant failed to carry out a sufficient risk assessment covering the operation of shovel vehicles at the site.
This would have identified the need to put in place a safe system of work, such as marked pedestrian routes and fitting fixed mirrors to improve drivers' vision, to prevent the risk of pedestrians coming into contact with the moving vehicles.
In addition, VM Plant failed to provide drivers of shovel vehicles with adequate training to ensure they operated the vehicles safely.
The firm was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of GBP13,739.
Commenting on the case, investigating HSE inspector Frank Sykes said: "The court has recognised the importance of preventing accidents by ensuring that all workplace transport is conducted to suitable standards.
"The level of fine reflects the seriousness of this incident and the very tragic loss of life".
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