Company fined following death of schoolgirl
November 30th 18:00 Health and Safety
A business has been fined £25,000 following an incident in which a 13-year-old girl was crushed to death after she gained access to a quarry.
Amber Worth of Brierley, Barnsley was killed when a boulder weighting almost half a tonne fell onto her after she and some friends had entered Carlton Main Brickworks in Grimethorpe, Barnsley in 2007.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company had failed to ensure the boundary of the site was protected by a suitable barrier - a shortcoming that could have been prevented through the use of proper facilities management.
"This is a tragic case where a young girl died as a result of the company not securing its premises," remarked inspector at the HSE Richard Noble.
He added that the prosecution should serve as a "stark warning" to firms that operate quarries and construction sites that they need to prevent people from gaining access to their premises.
The HSE, which is a government body, aims to "prevent death, injury and ill health" in the workplace.
