A Worksop man has been fined after an employee was crushed to death when a tractor overturned and landed on him.

Christopher Fox, 60, from Osberton near Worksop, was killed instantly when the tractor overturned during a tree felling operation. Mr Fox was standing by the tractor which was being used to control the direction of the falling tree as it was being felled. However, the tree fell in an unexpected direction and overturned the tractor, crushing Mr Fox.

-- Advertisement --

The incident happened on 4 November 2009 at Hodsock Forest Farm, Blyth Road in the town. Mr Fox was employed by the GMT Foljambe 1996 Discretionary Trust, on the Osberton estate, of which defendant George Michael Thornhagh Foljambe is a trustee.

After a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation Mr Foljambe of Mill Farm, Osberton, was prosecuted at Nottingham Crown Court for failing to ensure Mr Fox's safety and failing to ensure he had received adequate training in the equipment he was using.

Mr Foljambe, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and Regulation 9(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

He was fined a total of £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of £20,327.

(CD/GK)