The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted JFC Plastics Ltd, previously known as Delleve Plastics Ltd, after worker Steven Bennett died at the company’s former premises at the Neills Road Industrial Estate in Bold.
A hearing at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday (September 28), heard that Mr Bennett, 31, was last seen alive by his colleagues in the early hours of the morning on November 24 2005.
The exact cause of Mr Bennetts death is unknown but an HSE investigation concluded that the most likely cause was that he fell into a machine, used to break apart bales of plastic bottles, while checking to see if it was running smoothly.
The court was told JFC Plastics failed to take steps to prevent access to the machine while it was operating, and failed to ensure power to the machine was cut before maintenance work was carried out. The HSE added that the company also had an inadequate risk assessment in place and its training, supervision and monitoring of the work did not meet acceptable standards.
JFC Plastics Ltd, of Goldicote Business Park, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by failing to ensure the safety of employees who were operating the machine.
The company was fined 140,000 and ordered to pay 100,000 in prosecution costs at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday (September 28).
Tragic
Speaking after the hearing, HSE principal inspector Tanya Stewart said: “This was a tragic death that could have been prevented if JFC Plastics had put more thought into the safety of its employees and the adequacy of its working practices. Employees regularly entered the machine to remove entangled wire, but there were no safeguards in place to prevent them carrying out this work while the machine’s parts were still moving.
“I hope this case will act as a warning to companies to think more carefully about the safety of workers who clean, maintain or repair machines or who clear blockages.”
Regret
JFC Plastics said it again extended its sincere sympathy to Mr Bennetts family.
A statement from the the company said: JFC Plastics express profound regret at the death of Steve Bennett and extends sincere sympathy to his mother, his sister and his extended family. We again extend sincere condolences to them and very much regret that we came to know them under such negative circumstances.
JFC Plastics said that the de-baler involved in the incident was a standard machine which is used extensively in the waste and recycling industries. It added that the installation of the machine was approved by the manufacturing company, and the safety systems and working procedures were also approved by the manufacturer.
The firm added: It is a fact that no one knows how the accident happened as there were no witnesses to it. The courts opted to find that Mr Bennett fell into the machine while it was operational as a consequence a serious fine was imposed. In mitigation, the company has had no previous safety convictions and cooperated fully with the HSE accident investigation. JFC is committed to the health, safety and welfare of all its employees.”
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The company recycles post-consumer plastic bottles into twin-wall drainage pipes and PET flakes for use in the polyester fibre industry.
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