Engineering company fined £17.5k for fatal accident at work

An engineering firm has been fined £17,500 after being found liable for a fatal accident at work at one of its premises.

Autoy Limited, of Preston, was prosecuted following an investigation conducted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into an incident in January of last year in which Michael Lohaza - who had worked for the firm for 28 years - died after being trapped in an engineering lathe.

The 45-year-old was working alone at the time of the accident and was fatally injured after becoming trapped on a one-metre metal screw as he cut thread using the machinery.

The company subsequently pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 - which states it is "the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees" - and regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 during a case at Preston Crown Court.

Michael Clarke, inspector at the HSE, stated: "Autoy was unable to demonstrate it had assessed the risks faced by employees working alone on the lathe."

Posted by Craig Williams
 

27/09/2010 15:41