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Death of a Worker Costs Company £100,000
- April 12th, 2010
Hydro Aluminium Extrusion Ltd, suppliers of aluminium extrusion and fabricated products, of Caerphilly, Mid Glamorgan has had to pay £100,000 as compensation for the death of one of its workers. One of its workers died in its factory in
Jens Hinrichs, a resident of Hexham was employed as a Project Engineer with HAE. On 2nd November 2006, he was working in a shuttle line that was shifting finished aluminium goods to the banding machine from the packing stations. At the end of the each of the four packing stations, there was a shuttle car operating on rail tracks for collecting finished goods. While Mr. Hinrichs was doing his work in the enclosure, the shuttle car hit him. He was rushed to the hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival there.
The Durham Crown Court imposed a fine of £100,000 on the company, including £13,375 as costs of the suit.
Zo Feather, a HSE Inspector stated that this accident would not have occurred, if there were proper mechanisms in place for preventing workers from reaching the shuttle line. If there was any manual work to be done in the shuttle enclosure, then there should have been suitable isolation and procedures to stop risky movement of machinery. She said that companies that require operation of machines have to do a risk assessment and put suitable preventive mechanisms in place. This unfortunate accident would not have occurred if the company had done risk assessment of the shuttle line and taken necessary precautions for safe access to the shuttle enclosure.
Company’s representative, Mr. Oliver Campbell said that the company has put suitable mechanisms in place to prevent such accidents in future and it is sincerely concerned about the health and safety of its workers.
The NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH General) is a qualification designed to help those with health and safety responsibilities. A NEBOSH training course can help cut the health and safety risks that apply in the workplace and provide all the advice and up-to-date information needed to make sure organisations remain compliant with the latest health and safety regulations.
