Company fined £130,000 after employee dies
The Health and Safety Executive has prosecuted a refuse company and slapped them with a fine of £130,000, after a man died in a work accident.
The 56 year old man was killed collecting rubbish outside a pub in Easington, near Aylesbury, on May 5, 2004.
A jury heard that a recycling bin fell from the bin hoist on the recycling lorry and landed on his head.
The Aylesbury Crown Court found the company guilty of breaching health and safety rules and professional negligence.It was ordered to pay costs of £220,000 on top of the £130,000 fine.
Dennis MacWilliam, HSE inspector, said: “This was an extremely tragic incident which has now left (the worker's) widow to continue life without a loving husband. It could have been avoided if only a few simple measures had been in place."
He also added that employers are legally required to make sure their equipment is regularly maintained and is fit for use by their workers.
"If the bin hoist on the recycling lorry had been maintained this incident would never have happened,” he said.
A top official at the refuse company commented on the accident claim: “We deeply regret the death of an employee whilst working on our Chiltern municipal contract over five years ago in May 2004."
Updated on 19/02/2010