Penhill Farm Limited and owner Selwyn Andrew Thomas Richards have been fined £20,000 over the incident.
Swansea Crown Court was told that the 43-year-old man was struck on 31 July 2014 and died from crush injuries sustained to his chest and body.
The HSE’s investigation found the farm had failed to maintain the machinery, for which Richards as the sole director was directly responsible. The machinery was in poor condition with visibility compromised by the dirty and badly positioned mirrors and dirty glass in the cab.
Penhill Farm Limited of Ferryside Carmarthenshire, pleaded guilty to a charge of Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £10,000. Mr Richards pleaded guilty to a charge of Section 37 of the act, but no separate penalty was given.
Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Steve Richardson said:
“This is a tragic incident which cost a popular family man his life. The case highlights the need and importance for duty holders to properly maintain dangerous machinery and vehicles, including mirrors and glass to avoid fatal incidents such as this.”
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