A recycling and waste management company has been fined £210,000 after a fatal accident at its Northamptonshire landfill facility.
Gary Carter, 32, died after he was crushed between a bulldozer and lorry at the Cranford landfill site back in January of 2007. In the wake of the incident, landfill owner SITA UK Limited, admitted to breaching safety standards at the site.
Mr Carter’s lorry stalled at the site, but when a bulldozer backed up without looking, the man was pinned between his vehicle and the bulldozer. In court proceedings it was brought to light that the recycling firm had introduced new working arrangements without proper risk assessment just days before the incident.
SITA had allegedly failed to identify supervisor roles for its staff and site rules for pushing lorries was not clear. Roy Bush, HSE Inspector, said that all firms were required to take legal responsibility for individuals working on their properties. He added that assessing all risks is expected from companies, and employers must make sure that all workers understand risks and responsibilities associated with required safety rules.
SITA was ordered by the court to pay £38,000 to cover full costs in addition to the £210,000 fine associated with the breach in safety. Mr Carter was from Kidwelly, Dyfed in Wales. SITA UK Limited is based in Maidenhead, Berkshire.
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