Two firms have been prosecuted after a worker died at a factory in Worksop, Nottinghamshire.

Both Explore Manufacturing and Select Plant Hire Company, which are subsidiaries of Laing O'Rourke, have been fined a total of £3.8 million following the death of Richard Reddish on 08 July 2014.

Nottingham Crown Court heard that Mr Reddish, who was employed by Explore Manufacturing at its site on Explore Way, was working in the finishing area on a mobile elevating working platform (MEWP), removing the lifting attachments from the top of a concrete panel, which weighed about 11 tonnes and was stored on a transport pallet.

However, the accident took place when the panel started to topple while he was standing in the raised MEWP basket. The first panel struck the MEWP, throwing Mr Reddish from the basket. It also caused a number of other concrete panels to topple, one of which fell onto him.

Select Plant Hire Company had supplied the transport pallets and shared responsibility for their maintenance with Explore Manufacturing.

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A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into the incident confirmed that the frame used to secure the panel was not properly connected to the pallet, as a locking pin had not been correctly reinserted after the frame had previously been replaced, and there was no system of pre-use checks.

In addition, the pallets were found to be in a poor condition, with defects including missing support bearers and stabilising legs. Other failures included the storage of large freestanding concrete panels in the finishing area, which should have been secured in storage racks, and a lack of sufficient planning. The investigation also identified concerns with the wider systems for the storage of concrete panels at the site.

Explore Manufacturing Limited, of Bridge Place, Anchor Boulevard, Admirals Park Crossways, Dartford, Kent DA2 6SN, pleaded guilty to the charge of breaching Section 2 of the Health and Safety At Work Etc Act 1974 in that they failed to ensure so far as reasonably practicable the health, safety and welfare of its employees during the transportation and storage of the pre-cast concrete panels. The company was fined £2m and with £13,922 in costs.

In addition, Select Plant Hire Company Limited, of the same address, pleaded guilty to the charge of breaching Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974 in that the company failed to properly maintain the transport pallets in operation at the Explore facility and thereby exposed the Explore employees to risks to their health and safety. The firm was fined £1.8m with £13,922 in costs.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Stuart Pilkington said: "This tragic incident led to the avoidable death of a young man, whose death could easily have been prevented if the companies had acted following previous warnings to identify and manage the risks involved, maintain the equipment, and put a safe system of work in place."

(LM)