Waste disposal firm fined over worker death
April 20th 15:29 Health and Safety
The importance that should be put on health and safety regulations has been highlighted after a member of the public died on a waste disposal site.
Dennis Krauesslar was crushed to death by a motorised loading shovel at a civic tipping area used by Biffa Waste Services.
The Buckinghamshire-based company was fined £280,000 and ordered to pay costs of almost £55,000.
After an inspection by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the firm was found to have not ensured that the site was safe for members of the public to use.
West Berkshire Magistrates court handed out the fine after Biffa pleaded guilty to contravening Regulation 3(1) (b) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
Mike Wilcock, the HSE's head of operations for the south-east, said: "This tragic incident could have been avoided if sensible precautions and working practices had been in place to prevent the loading shovel working in such close proximity to members of the public.
"Companies operating such sites must carefully assess their arrangements to ensure that they keep vehicles and pedestrians separate whenever possible."
