Firm prosecuted after worker crushed to death

£750,000 fine for Hanson Packed Products after employee’s arm caught in unguarded powered roller

HANSON Packed Products Ltd have been prosecuted after a 26-year-old worker was fatally crushed when his arm was caught in a powered roller.

William Ridge was clearing sand around the base of an in-feed conveyor at the company’s bagging site in Dagenham on 25 September 2013 moments before his right arm was drawn into the roller.

Southwark Crown Court heard that there should have been fixed guards surrounding the powered roller to prevent access to the dangerous moving parts. However, a critical guard was not in place.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that the guard had not been in place on the machine for a few days. It also found there had been issues with the machinery on the previous day which Mr Ridge was trying to rectify at the time of the incident.

Hanson Packed Products Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and were fined £750,000 and ordered to pay costs of £29,511.

After the hearing, HSE Principal Inspector Stephen Hartley said: ‘This death of a young worker could and should have been prevented. Where safety depends on guards, employers need to regularly inspect them and be confident they are properly in place, and that they are effective.’