CEMEX UK fined following worker fatality

Company fined £1 million after an employee died during maintenance and repair work

CEMEX UK Operations Ltd have been fined £1 million after a worker suffered fatal injuries when he was struck on the body by a centering machine lifting mast at the company's West Calder block and pavior production plant in West Lothian, Scotland.

Livingston Sheriff Court heard that, on 13 May 2017, James Brownlie was carrying out maintenance and repair work on a dry-sided conveyor, part of which ran under a centering machine.

The centering machine was not isolated at the time and part of Mr Brownlie’s body interrupted the path of the light beam between the sensor’s emitter and reflector. This caused the machine’s lifting mast to activate and descend, striking him on the body and causing internal injuries from which he died a short time later.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that CEMEX UK failed to ensure the centering machine was isolated prior to the maintenance and repair work being carried out on the conveyor.

The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) and Section 33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £1,000,000.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Kim Ross said: ‘This tragic incident led to the avoidable death of a man, which could have easily been prevented had taken action to ensure the centering machine was isolated prior to the maintenance and repair work being carried out.

‘If this had been in place before the incident, James Brownlie’s death could have been prevented.’