SHP Online is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

SHP Online is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

February 8, 2021

Get the SHP newsletter

Daily health and safety news, job alerts and resources

in court

£200k fine after worker killed by falling lift conveyor

A sawmill company has been fined after a worker was fatally injured when a lift conveyor collapsed on top of him.

Two employees were working below a lift conveyor at Pontrilas sawmill in Hereford to remove wood debris. The machine had been experiencing a fault, which had prevented the conveyor from descending. While the employees were working the conveyor suddenly dropped downwards causing fatal crush injuries to one employee and bruising and abrasion injuries to the head of the other employee. The incident happened on 20 December 2017.

The HSE found that the company had failed to assess the risks to the employees during the cleaning operation or provide a suitable system of work for removing debris from beneath the raised lift conveyor.

Pontrilas Sawmills Limited of Hereford Road, Pontrilas, Hereford pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £200,000 and ordered to pay costs of £22,016.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Lee Schilling said: “Unplanned maintenance activities give rise to the risk of fatal incidents.

“Simply securing the lift conveyor in a raised position to prevent the inadvertent downward movement or collapse would have prevented this incident.”

[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text]

The Safety Conversation Podcast: Listen now!

The Safety Conversation with SHP (previously the Safety and Health Podcast) aims to bring you the latest news, insights and legislation updates in the form of interviews, discussions and panel debates from leading figures within the profession.Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, subscribe and join the conversation today![/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="15px"][vc_btn title="Listen here!" color="success" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.shponline.co.uk%2Fthe-safety-and-health-podcast%2F|target:_blank"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="91215" img_size="medium"][/vc_column][/vc_row]
£200k fine after worker killed by falling lift conveyor A sawmill company has been fined after a worker was fatally injured when a lift conveyor collapsed on top of him.
SHP - Health and Safety News, Legislation, PPE, CPD and Resources

Related Topics

Leave a Comment
Cancel reply

Exit mobile version