Have a question?
033 3772 0409

Personal Injury Solicitors

£1m fine after worker is crushed to death by falling machinery (22 September 2016)

Date: 22/09/2016
Duncan Lewis, Personal Injury Solicitors, £1m fine after worker is crushed to death by falling machinery

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted a manufacturing company, after a worker was crushed to death by falling machinery.

Parker Hannifin Manufacturing Ltd – based in Hemel Hempstead – was prosecuted after 48-year-old Colin Reddish died in an incident at the company’s factory in Grantham, Lincolnshire on 30 April 2015.

Mr Reddish was involved in moving a large CNC milling machine within the company’s factory, when it overturned and crushed him.

The machine had been lifted using jacks and placed onto skates in order to give Mr Reddish access to use an angle grinder to cut and remove the bolts that had secured it to the floor – he was working alone at the time of the incident.

An HSE investigation into the incident found that Parker Hannifin Manufacturing Ltd had not ensured that workers who were tasked with lifting and moving the machine were sufficiently trained – and had the right experience and training for carrying out such a potentially dangerous activity.

During its investigation, HSE also found that the work was not properly planned – the centre of gravity of the machine had not been properly assessed and taken into account before the move took place, which resulted in an unsafe system of work being used for the job, with fatal consequences.

At Lincolnshire Magistrates’ Court, Parker Hannifin Manufacturing Ltd of Maylands Avenue in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3(1) of Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety of Work etc Act 1974.

The company was fined £1 million for breaching Section 2, with full costs of £6,311 and a victim surcharge of £120.

After sentencing, HSE Inspector Martin Giles said:

“Colin Reddish’s death was entirely preventable – Parker Hannifin Manufacturing Ltd had already tried unsuccessfully to lift the machine using a fork lift truck, but instead of learning from this failure, they carried on.

“Their ad hoc approach to managing dangerous tasks resulted in one of their workers losing his life.

“All companies can learn from this incident and make sure they have properly risk assessed the situation before they start – and that they have trained staff with the right type of experience to carry out the task in hand safely.

“Taking an extra few minutes to properly think through a problem could save a worker’s life.”

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – No win no fee Fatal Injury Claims

Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advised bereaved families whose loved one has lost their life as a result of negligence on how to make a no win no fee claim for compensation – including claims involving:

• Accidents at work
• Animal attacks
• Criminal injuries claims
• Holiday accidents
• Industrial accidents
• Medical negligence
• Military accidents
• Public liability accidents
• Road traffic accidents
• Sports injuries.

Fatal injury claims have to be made within three years – Duncan Lewis is also able to advise on fatal injury claims involving industrial disease caused by negligence and diagnosed at late stage or post-mortem.

For expert and supportive legal advice on no win no fee Fatal Injury Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 0333 772 0409.



For all Personal Injury related matter contact us now.Contact Us

Call us now on 033 3772 0409 or click here to send online enquiry.
Duncan Lewis is the trading name of Duncan Lewis (Solicitors) Limited. Registered Office is 143-149 Fenchurch St, London, EC3M 6BL. Company Reg. No. 3718422. VAT Reg. No. 718729013. A list of the company's Directors is displayed at the registered offices address. Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority . Offices all across London and in major cities in the UK. ©Duncan Lewis >>Legal Disclaimer, Copyright & Privacy Policy. Duncan Lewis do not accept service by email.