Hargreaves fined following death of worker
DURHAM-based Hargreaves (UK) Services Ltd, a major energy support services company, have been fined £120,000 at Grimsby Crown Court after safety failings led to the death of a man at their coal-processing plant in Immingham.
Hargreaves, who pleaded guilty to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, were also ordered to pay £35,000 in costs.
The prosecution followed the death of Alan Noddle, who suffered fatal injuries when he was run over by a loading shovel on 20 July 2007. Mr Noddle worked as a maintenance fitter for Hargreaves’ sister company Norec Ltd and was working at Hargreaves’ Astra Site at Immingham Docks on the day of the fatal incident.
He died when he was struck by a large loading shovel being used to transfer coal from one area of the plant to another. The driver of the vehicle could not see Mr Noddle as he walked across the stockyard because the large bucket on the loader blocked his view.
After the hearing HSE Inspector Geoffrey Clark said: ‘This is a tragic case where a man died as a result of dangerous practices at the site. The loading shovel severely obscured the driver’s view, yet despite this it was common practice for employees to be allowed to walk in the area where these machines were being operated.
‘Workplace transport is one of HSE’s priorities, as transport injuries are a major cause of death and injury at work. Although this is an extreme case, I would urge all employers to be aware of the dangers of moving vehicles of all sizes and to put appropriate measures in place to segregate people from moving vehicles to prevent another tragedy from happening.’
Hargreaves, who pleaded guilty to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, were also ordered to pay £35,000 in costs.
The prosecution followed the death of Alan Noddle, who suffered fatal injuries when he was run over by a loading shovel on 20 July 2007. Mr Noddle worked as a maintenance fitter for Hargreaves’ sister company Norec Ltd and was working at Hargreaves’ Astra Site at Immingham Docks on the day of the fatal incident.
He died when he was struck by a large loading shovel being used to transfer coal from one area of the plant to another. The driver of the vehicle could not see Mr Noddle as he walked across the stockyard because the large bucket on the loader blocked his view.
After the hearing HSE Inspector Geoffrey Clark said: ‘This is a tragic case where a man died as a result of dangerous practices at the site. The loading shovel severely obscured the driver’s view, yet despite this it was common practice for employees to be allowed to walk in the area where these machines were being operated.
‘Workplace transport is one of HSE’s priorities, as transport injuries are a major cause of death and injury at work. Although this is an extreme case, I would urge all employers to be aware of the dangers of moving vehicles of all sizes and to put appropriate measures in place to segregate people from moving vehicles to prevent another tragedy from happening.’
