£255k fine after worker crushed to death, firm admits corporate manslaughter

James Evison

A company and its director have been sentenced for causing the death of a factory worker who fell into a piece of machinery at a recycling yard.

Safi Qais Khan died at Master Construction Products (Skips) Ltd (MCP) after he became entangled in a machine called a trommel, used to sort waste material.

MCPS admitted the corporate manslaughter of Mr Khan, after an investigation found:

• there was no safe system of work for the trommel and it was in a dangerous state
• essential guards to prevent entrapment were missing
• there was no emergency stop button on the machine and it was surrounded by uneven and waste strewn ground.

The company also admitted a health and safety breach of a duty owed to its employee in failing to ensure measures were in place to minimise risks of entrapment, crushing or falls whilst working at the trommel.

Dangerous state

Jagbir Singh, director of MCPS, pleaded guilty to a health a safety offence. He admitted that he was aware of the way in which the company operated the trommel.

The company was given a fine of £255,000 for corporate manslaughter. Singh was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years and 300 hours of community service at Birmingham Crown Court. He was also disqualified as a company director for eight years and ordered to pay £11,500 in prosecution costs.

Michael Gregory, from the CPS, said: “MCPS Ltd let the trommel and the area around it fall into a dilapidated and dangerous state. Little thought was given by the company to the safety of its employees when working at the machine. This failure caused the death of Mr Khan.

“Singh admitted the offence after the CPS successfully showed how senior leaders’ management of the machinery played a substantial part in Mr Khan’s death. Our thoughts are with Mr Khan’s family.”

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