Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

File photo Vladiczech via Shutterstock

UK company fined £255,000 after factory worker fell into construction machine and died

Safi Qais Khan died at Master Construction Products Ltd after he became entangled in a machine called a trommel.

A UK COMPANY and its director have been sentenced today for causing the death of a factory worker who fell into a piece of machinery at a recycling yard.

The worker, Safi Qais Khan, died at Master Construction Products Skips Ltd (MCPS) after he became entangled in a trommel machine, which is used to sort waste material.

MCPS admitted the corporate manslaughter of Khan following an investigation into his death.

The investigation found there was no safe system of work for the trommel and it was placed in a dangerous site. Essential guards to prevent entrapment were missing, there was no emergency stop button on the machine and it was surrounded by uneven and waste-strewn ground.

The company also admitted to a breach of its health a safety duty owed to its employee, in failing to ensure measures were in place to minimise the risk of entrapment, crushing or falls whilst working at the trommel.

Jagbir Singh, director of MCPS, pleaded guilty to a health and safety offence, admitting that he was aware of the way in which the company operated the trommel.

The company was fined £255,000 for corporate manslaughter.

Singh was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, and 300 hours of community service at Birmingham Crown Court.

He was also disqualified as a company director for eight years and ordered to pay £11,500 in prosecution costs.

Michael Gregory, from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: “MCPS let the trommel and the area around it fall into a dilapidated and dangerous state.

Little thought was given by the company to the safety of its employees when working at the machine. This failure caused the death of Mr Khan.

“Singh admitted the offence after the CPS successfully showed how senior leaders’ management of the machinery played a substantial part of Mr Khan’s death. Our thoughts are with Mr Khan’s family.”

Read: IRA member becomes only the second person ever convicted of directing terrorism in Ireland

More: Gardaí investigating sudden death of woman (64) in Co Galway hotel bedroom

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
13 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mick Hannigan
    Favourite Mick Hannigan
    Report
    Oct 31st 2017, 2:38 PM

    What a way to go, Jesus RIP, as for 225k fine, not near enough of a fine, and the family should be awarded millions not that the money will help with the fact of the death but will send alarm bells off to other companies with poor safety in place

    97
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nick Allen
    Favourite Nick Allen
    Report
    Oct 31st 2017, 2:50 PM

    @Mick Hannigan:

    I don’t see any real value on imposing a large fine on a company for this. However I do believe the family of the victim should be appropriately compensated. I would prefer to see the ‘fine’ money plus more go to the family

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Conroy
    Favourite David Conroy
    Report
    Oct 31st 2017, 2:58 PM

    @Mick Hannigan: I’d say he was paid buttons as well !

    20
    See 5 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brown Boots
    Favourite Brown Boots
    Report
    Oct 31st 2017, 3:15 PM

    @Mick Hannigan: this is a criminal prosecution not a civil so the fine does not go to the family, they will be rewarded through a civil claim and no doubt the company insurance. These fines are not insurable and comes out of the company. I only assume that this isn’t a very big company and the judge has taken into account that its can afford this without putting it under.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mick Hannigan
    Favourite Mick Hannigan
    Report
    Oct 31st 2017, 3:16 PM

    @Nick Allen: I don’t see why they should not get a hefty fine, they had nothing g in place to help avoid this death, if companies don’t get a hefty fine they continue to go on the way they always did, they look at it ah sure the cost of reducing the risk is much lower then reducing the risk, so that’s why,

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kal Ipers
    Favourite Kal Ipers
    Report
    Oct 31st 2017, 4:09 PM

    @Mick Hannigan: In fairness saying they had nothing to prevent his death is not what was said. Not very many people do such things thinking it will cause a death.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Carpentoza
    Favourite Carpentoza
    Report
    Oct 31st 2017, 5:44 PM

    @Mick Hannigan: fines are generally based on turnover to hurt but not close the business. I would prefer to see the custodial sentence actually served to make a proper statement

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gareth Cooney
    Favourite Gareth Cooney
    Report
    Oct 31st 2017, 8:19 PM

    @Mick Hannigan: company employees are encouraged to stop work and bring any unsafe practices or potential risks/ hazards to the managements attention.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
    Favourite Fiona Fitzgerald
    Report
    Oct 31st 2017, 3:39 PM

    The poor man, how horrible, and so preventable. Was the site never inspected?

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute wesley
    Favourite wesley
    Report
    Oct 31st 2017, 2:48 PM

    Delighted

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute wesley
    Favourite wesley
    Report
    Oct 31st 2017, 2:42 PM

    Good.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute wesley
    Favourite wesley
    Report
    Oct 31st 2017, 2:47 PM

    Good stuff

    4
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds