Man’s skull crushed during food giant’s half-baked operation

An employee of the UK’s largest food producer suffered severe brain and spinal injuries after a 65kg metal pillar fell and struck him on the head.

Maintenance engineer Thomas Williams, 61, was working at Premier Foods Group Ltd’s Manor Bakeries site in Moreton, Merseyside on 24 July 2008, when a four-metre section of pillar landed on him and crushed his skull.

Premier Foods, which has an annual turnover of £2.6 billion and owns brands including Hovis, Branston and Ambrosia, admitted failing to ensure the safety of its employees under s2(1) of the HSWA. It was fined £14,000 with £6808 costs at Wirral Magistrates’ Court on 9 September.

Magistrates heard how Mr Williams and a colleague had been helping to remove cages and pillars from a storage area at the site. They used an angle grinder to cut a pillar but, just as they levered it free at the base, it detached from the ceiling and landed on Mr Williams.

He was taken to hospital, where he remained for six months. He now has difficulty speaking and moving, and his wife hasn’t been able to work since, as she has to care for him.

On investigation, the HSE concluded that the company had failed to plan the task, and had not trained workers on how to carry out the work safely.

Investigating inspector Phil Redman said: “A man’s life has been turned upside down because basic health and safety procedures weren’t followed. Mr Williams has been permanently disabled by his injuries and will never be able to return to work.

“Premier Foods could have brought in specialists to carry out the work, but instead, Mr Williams and a colleague were just told to get on with the job. Mr Williams did not have any previous experience of carrying out this kind of work, and he should not have been put in a position where he had to make decisions about how to do it.

“There really is no excuse for a company the size of Premier Foods to make this kind of error when it comes to health and safety.”

A Premier Foods spokesperson said: “Premier Foods sincerely regrets the accident at Manor Bakeries that resulted in the injury to Mr Williams. Premier Foods has an excellent health and safety record and takes its responsibilities extremely seriously, and steps have been taken to prevent a similar incident occurring.”