£475,000 fine after worker’s “preventable” death

HGV retailer ATE Truck and Trailer Sales has been fined £475,000 after a self-employed contractor was killed in an accident.

The Health and Safety Executive launched a case after the police took no action and an inquest jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

William Price, 63, suffered fatal head injuries when he was struck by the roof of a trailer he was dismantling at the Marston Industrial Estate site in February 2013.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found ATE had undertaken this task before by its own employees and had an established method in place. However, it failed to properly consider the risks involved in this work and did not provide Mr Price with any information in relation to his safety when stripping down the trailers.

ATE pleaded guilty at Wolverhampton Crown Court to a single charge under the Health and Safety at Work Regulations. The £17m-turnover company must also pay £20,000 costs, while its own legal costs were estimated at £100,000.

HSE inspector Judith Botwood said: “This tragic accident was preventable had all parties considered the risks involved and taken appropriate measures to reduce that risk.”