Corporate manslaughter charge over death at Sterecycle plant

THE Crown Prosecution Service has said that failed Yorkshire recycling business Sterecycle should be charged with corporate manslaughter following the death of an employee two years ago.

The incident happened in 2011 when the door to the autoclave that Michael Whinfrey was working on blew out under pressure.

Another operator was seriously injured as a result of the explosion at the recycling plant at Templeborough, Rotherham.

The autoclave was one of two large vessels at the site that used heat and pressure in order to process household waste into material for recycling.

Jane Wragg, specialist prosecutor in the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: “I have carefully reviewed the evidence gathered by South Yorkshire Police and the Health and Safety Executive during their investigation into the tragic death of Michael Whinfrey. I have concluded that Sterecycle (Rotherham) should be charged with an offence of corporate manslaughter.

“I have also authorised charges under Section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work Act against Kevin Goss (maintenance manager), Steven Weaver (operations manager) and Paul Greenwell (operations director) and a further charge of perverting the course of justice against Kevin Goss.

“The decision was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.”

The first hearing will take place at Rotherham Magistrates’ Court on October 14.

Sterecycle, which went into administration last year, used a patented technology to treat black bag waste that releases recyclable materials and produced a soil-like substance called Sterefibre which can be used to grow biofuel crops.