A manufacturing firm has been fined after an employee was crushed to death after his arm got caught in a powered roller.

Hanson Packed Products pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

It was fined £750,000 with costs of £29,511.

Southwark Crown Court heard how William Ridge, 26, was clearing sand around the base of an in-feed conveyor at the company’s bagging site in Dagenham on 25 September 2013.

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However, his right arm was caught and drawn into the roller, fatally crushing him.

The court heard how there should have been fixed guards surrounding the powered roller to prevent access to the dangerous moving parts. However, a critical guard was not in place.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that a guard had not been in place on the machine for a few days.

In addition, the investigation discovered there had been issues with the machinery on the previous day which Mr Ridge was trying to rectify at the time of the incident.

HSE Principal Inspector Stephen Hartley said: "This death of a young worker could and should have been prevented. Where safety depends on guards, employers need to regularly inspect them and be confident they are properly in place and that they are effective."

(LM/MH)