Sheffield Forgemasters fined over worker’s death

SHEFFIELD Forgemasters has been ordered to pay £245,000 in fines and costs for safety failings that led to a worker dying of carbon dioxide poisoning.

Brian Wilkins was found unconscious at the South Yorkshire foundry in 2008, after a confined underground area flooded with the fire-extinguishing mist.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated and prosecuted the company for serious safety failings. The company was fined £120,000 and ordered to pay £125,000 in costs.

Sheffield Crown Court was told Sheffield Forgemasters had failed to provide any rescue equipment for either the cellar or the drawpit. Other issues identified included a lack of a risk assessment by the firm for the cable cutting task and failing to provide a safe system of work for Mr Wilkins’ task in either underground location. In addition, there was no secure way to isolate the carbon dioxide fire system while work was going on in the cellar.

Sheffield Forgemasters Steel pleaded guilty to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

HSE inspector Jill Thompson said: “This was a very upsetting incident that resulted in the needless death of Mr Wilkins.

“The risks associated with confined spaces are well known in industry and there is an entire set of regulations dealing with controlling the risks associated with them. Multiple fatalities do occur when one person gets into difficulty in such a space and then the rescuers are similarly overcome.

“Sheffield Forgemasters had given no thought to the risks associated with the task being undertaken by Mr Wilkins, nor had they provided emergency rescue equipment.

“This case shows how important it is for companies to effectively risk assess work activities, looking at how the work will be carried out and in what circumstances.”

Graham Honeyman, chief executive at Sheffield Forgemasters, said: “Whilst Sheffield Forgemasters has accepted some health and safety breaches which occurred more than six years ago in 2008, it does not accept, and has never accepted, that its actions have caused or significantly contributed to the tragic death of Brian Wilkins. What triggered the fire suppression system at that point is still inconclusive as are many of the specifics around the events of that day.

“Furthermore, the company places the health and safety of its employees at the highest level and has continuous improvement systems in place to maintain the most stringent British Standard accredited health and safety procedures.”