12.09.2005

Steel company fined £75,000 +

Express Reinforcements Limited was fined a total of £75,000 and ordered to pay £10,771.55 at Guildford Crown Court on Thursday last week, for breaches of health and safety legislation.

The incident occurred on 11 March 2004 at the company's premises at Fordwater Trading Estate, Ford Water, Chertsey.
Brian Bennett, a 39-year-old lorry driver from Chertsey, was crushed against a metal bench by a crawler cranes counterweight as it slewed. He suffered cuts, grazes, deep lacerations and a broken right arm.

Express Reinforcements Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The company was fined £75,000 for the breach of Section 2(1) but no additional fine was levied for the breach of Section 3(1) due to the similarities in the charges. The maximum penalty in the Crown Court for a single breach of the HSW Act is an unlimited fine.

Following the case, Andrew Christian, HM Inspector of Health and Safety, said:

"This incident occurred because the work, using a crane to lift a load, was not adequately planned for and the lifting equipment was not positioned to ensure a clear work area. It is vital that all lifting operations are planned for, appropriately supervised and carried out safely by a competent person.