A man died after being struck by a shuttle car where a risk assessment could have prevented it - 1st April 2010

A company has been heavily fined after a workplace accident in which a worker died.

Hydro Aluminium Extrusion Ltd was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay £13,000 in costs at Durham Crown Court as a result of the accident which occurred in 2006.

Jens Hinrichs was working at the firm’s factory in Chester-le-Street as a project engineer within a shuttle line when he was hit by a shuttle car. He was taken to hospital but the injuries sustained in the accident were so great he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The Health and Safety Executive said that the incident would have been easily preventable if the company had had a suitable system to prevent workers from gaining access to the shuttle line.

HSE Inspector Zoe Feather said: “Employers who operate machinery are required to undertake a thorough assessment to identify the risks from machinery and put in place suitable precautions. If the company had properly risk assessed the shuttle line and implemented a system to safely enter into the shuttle enclosure this tragic incident would not have happened.”

CALL 0800 0322210 - or if preferred contact our discreet ONLINE CHAT LINE - or complete our enquiry form opposite.