Sharpness cement firm fined £1m after worker crushed to death by concrete weight
35 year old Martin Bennett died after being crushed by a one point six tonne weight in August 2021
Last updated 4 hours ago
A Sharpness cement company has been fined £1m after the death of a worker who was crushed by machinery at a plant.
Martin Bennett, 35, worked for Dragon Alfa Cement Limited at its facility in Gloucestershire, and on 4 August 2021 was found dead after being crushed by a 1.6 tonne concrete weight, which was used to raise pallets full of 25 kg bags of cement.
The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and at Britsol Magistrates' Court today (21 July) they were fined £1 million and ordered to pay £9621 in costs.
A investigation by the Health and Saftey Executive (HSE) found that a large section of the equipment's perimeter fencing had routinely been removed over a prolonged period which allowed full access into the dangerous parts of the machinery, including moving parts that presented a risk of serious injury or death.
HSE also found that Dragon Alfa Cement Limited failed to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its employees, including Martin Bennett, by failing to prevent access to dangerous parts of the machinery.
In a victim personal statement, Martin's wife, Layla, said:
"He was kind, I mean right down to the very bones of him kind, he would always put himself last even if you didn't want him to.
"He would give you the shirt off his back, last pound in his pocket, whatever you needed it was yours."
HSE inspector Oliver Guiver said:
“Martin Bennett lost his life in an incident that should never have happened.
“The company repeatedly failed to ensure dangerous parts of this machinery were properly guarded, despite suitable safeguards being available.
"Had those measures been in place, Martin would not have died.
“Our thoughts remain with Martin's family. He went to work expecting to return home at the end of the day, but because of the devastating consequences of these failings, he never did.”
Dragon Alfa Cement Limited have been approached for comment.