Brick maker fined £280k after worker’s death

A BRICK manufacturer has been fined £280,000 after a man’s head was crushed just two weeks after he started working at a new plant.

Peter Clarke, 57, was working at Hanson Building Products’ distribution plant, in Coleshill, when his head was trapped between a conveyor and a metal platform in April 2008.

The Health and Safety Executive prosecuted Hanson Building Products after it admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 following his death.

In addition to the fine, the company was ordered to pay costs of £29,204.

Warwick Crown Court heard yesterday that Mr Clarke, from Bedworth, was working next to a conveyor that transferred groups of concrete blocks from a kiln to a packaging area.

Mr Clarke, who had previously worked for Hanson at its Nuneaton plant for 15 years, was responsible for removing samples of blocks for quality checking.

Sections of blocks were formed into larger groups for packaging by moving the conveyor’s direction of travel backwards and forwards.

Mr Clarke was standing next to a low bridge over the conveyor when he leaned forward to remove some blocks from the machine.

Another worker changed the direction of the conveyor, crushing Mr Clarke’s head between the concrete blocks on the conveyor and the metal platform.

The operator of the 30-metre conveyor could not see Mr Clarke because his view was obscured.

An investigation carried out by the HSE found the company had only identified the risk of workers trapping their fingers between the blocks and the stairway.

HSE inspector Peter Snelgrove said: “This tragic incident could have been prevented if Hanson Building Products had carried out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment to identify all the hazards for workers operating in this area.

“There were no safe systems of work for removing the blocks and the company failed to supervise Mr Clarke adequately.

“The area where he was working was well known as a danger zone by other workers, but he had been on site for less than two weeks and nobody had told him about the risks.

“Employers should understand that where failing standards in the workplace result in serious injury or death, HSE will prosecute.”

Mr Clarke’s widow Barbara added: “Pete’s death has devastated our family and for him to have lost his life due to a work-related incident is beyond belief.

“He was a much-loved husband, father and grandpa and our lives will never be the same without him.

“I would like to thank Peter Snelgrove from HSE for his help and the sensitive way in which he has dealt with us during this difficult time.”

A spokesman for Hanson Building Products said: “We deeply regret this incident and our sincere condolences go to Peter’s family and friends. He was a long-standing and loyal employee who was well respected by his colleagues.

“The circumstances that led to the accident were unforeseen and exceptional. A risk assessment had identified a potential hazard of less serious nature, but no accidents had ever occurred on this part of the plant.

“However, we recognise that we should have gone further and included specific control measures to eliminate the hazard.

“Hanson Building Products is a reputable and responsible company and we are fully committed to doing all we can to ensure the safety of our workforce.”