Car firm fined after fatal head injury to worker

Published HSE:  April 2011

A worker suffered fatal head injuries when he was struck by a steel barrier while carrying out maintenance on a machine.

The employee, 55, from Ilford, Essex, worked as an engineering and maintenance manager for a car mat manufacturer in Tottenham, London.

On the 20 May 2008, he suffered fatal head injuries when the heavy steel fabrication barrier fell on him while carrying out repairs on a rubber-mixing machine.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation revealed the barrier had been stored vertically and unsecured against rubber compound powder containers. The court heard the firm failed to assess the risks and implement a suitable and sufficient safe system of work for the maintenance of the mixer.

City of London Magistrates' Court heard the company did not supervise, manage, monitor, audit or review its arrangements regarding maintenance operations on the mixer to ensure they met the health and safety standards.

The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined a total of £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £13,100.

Speaking after the prosecution, HSE Inspector Neil Fry said:

"This tragic death was utterly preventable. Poor standards and failure to keep working environments in a good condition are a major cause of these types of incidents and also occupational diseases.

"Maintenance is a process that affects every aspect of safety and health and when a tragedy such as this occurs it demonstrates the importance of planning when carrying out maintenance work.

"Unfortunately it is too late for the deceased, but I would hope employers in London and around the UK will take note."

Notes to editors

• The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to prevent death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice, promoting training, new or revised regulations and codes of practice, and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. For more information about the work of HSE, visit www.hse.gov.uk
• 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."
• HSE media releases can be found by clicking this link

Back to 2011 News