Two North West companies have been fined following two worker fatalities at a Merseyside woodchip factory. The two workers, both in their 20s died when the conveyor belt they were fixing started unexpectedly, dragging them into the machinery.
James Bibby, 25, and Thomas Elmer, 27, both suffered catastrophic fatal injuries, when carrying out the maintenance work at the Sonae factory in Kirkby.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that on 7 December 2010 Mr Elmer, employed at the time by Metso Paper Ltd and Mr Bibby, a self-employed contractor for the same company, had been asked to replace part of conveyor belt at Sonae Industria (UK) Ltd’s Merseyside plant.
While carrying out the work the conveyor suddenly and unexpectedly started to operate, dragging both men into the machinery. The conveyor was meant to have been isolated from its power source, but this did not happen.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found multiple failings by both companies to properly assess the risks associated with the work James and Thomas were carrying out.
The HSE said that Sonae Industria (UK) Ltd had many failings, including:
The company was fined £220,000, with costs of £107,000, after pleading guilty to breaching Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
Valmet Ltd took over Metso Ltd in 2013 and was prosecuted for:
Valmet Ltd was fined £190,000, with costs of £107,000, after pleading guilty to breaching Sections 2 and 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
Following the case, HSE’s Principal Inspector Mike Sebastian said: “James Bibby and Thomas Elmer should not have died. This is perhaps the most horrific case I have ever had to deal with and has had a devastating effect on both families.
“Carrying out straightforward risk assessments is about protecting workers from serious harm, suffering life-changing injuries or, in this tragic case, death.
“If both companies had put in place the simple steps to protect their workers’ safety these two young men would still be with us today.”
Rosanna Hesketh, Thomas Elmer’s sister, said: “Thomas was the best big brother, he was the perfect mix of kind, loving, funny, with a little mischief, he would do anything for me. He protected me all my life, just knowing he was there made me feel safe. He was my confidante as well as my partner in crime and when he was killed, part of my heart died with him.
“The complete disregard for any health and safety protocol that Sonae and Metso should have followed has not only robbed me of my brother, my parents of their son but my children of their only maternal uncle.”
Bev Bibby, James Bibby’s mother, said: “The day James died it felt like someone had ripped inside my body and taken half my heart away. My younger son works in the same industry and faces everyday doing the same job, knowing his brother died because of someone else’s negligence. I worry every day history will repeat itself.
“I don’t think we, my son and I, will ever get over James’ death.”
Stuart Denney, defending Sonae, said: “We wish to offer a heartfelt apology for what took place and our part in it. It can’t do more than scratch the surface of the hole that has been left, but it is sincere and genuine.”
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