Welsh recycling firm fined after the death of young worker 07 October 2013

Bridgend recycling company Nolan Recycling has been ordered to pay more than £300,000 in fines and costs after breaching health and safety rules, which led to the death of an employee in 2010.

Cardiff Crown Court heard that Geraint Eagle, aged 21, died in December 2010 while cleaning sensors on the weighbridge at the waste site run by Nolan Recycling. The victim had only worked at the site for six months.

According to the Court documents, Eagle was told to remove mud from sensors on the weighbridge. As he had never carried out the task before, he worked alongside a more experienced colleague. However, after having a break, Eagle returned to the cleaning task alone.

According to the HSE (Health and Safety Executive), when a skip lorry drove onto the weighbridge, Eagle picked up his tools and moved out of the way. The driver then left his cab, and went into the site office, leaving Eagle to return to his work.

When the driver returned and drove on, the lorry hit the worker as he was working at the front of the lorry. The court was told that the driver could not see Eagle, as he was in a blind spot.

An investigation by the HSE highlighted a series of failings by the recycling firm, including: failing to appreciate the risks associated with the site; failure to train and supervise new staff; failure to provide a system of maintenance for equipment such as the weighbridge; and failure to have a health and safety plan.

"A fatal accident of this kind is devastating. It could have easily been prevented had health and safety guidelines been in place," comments Tom Fairclough, executive at Asons Solicitors.

"It is alleged that there were no measures in place to segregate workers from vehicles, and no formal training was provided to Mr Eagle. Such negligence caused the unacceptable death of a young worker," he continues.

"Those who have experienced similar working conditions should not hesitate to make a health and safety claim," he adds.

"This was a horrific incident with tragic consequences. It left Mr Eagle's girlfriend without a partner, and his son, born eight months after the incident, without a father," states HSE Inspector Sarah Baldwin Jones.

"There were multiple failings at the site, which should have been obvious and could easily have been addressed," she continues.

"Nolan Recycling should have closed the weighbridge while the work was taking place, had a clear written risk assessment for the maintenance work, and had policies in place to separate site workers from moving vehicles," she adds.

"There can be no excuse for companies in the waste industry not taking reasonable steps to safeguard their workers as there is a wealth of information and guidance from trade bodies as well as the HSE."

Brian Tinham

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Health & Safety Executive

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