Paul White, 43, owner of MW White in Ketteringham, admitted to manslaughter over the death of Kevin Arnup, in a machine that White himself described as “bloody dangerous.”
Norwich Crown Court heard that Mr Arnup's 15-year-old son Jason was also caught inside the shredder when it started up while the pair were unblocking it. But he escaped death after being dragged out by another worker moments before the machine crushed his father.
” Only an immediate custodial sentence will suffice as punishment for Mr White and to make it clear courts will not countenance a situation such as arose in this case “
– Judge Justice Bell
Mr White, of Drayton, near Norwich, also admitted failing to ensure the workers' safety under the Health and Safety Act. The court heard that, despite the machine lacking a basic switch to lock the power supply off, it was a regular practice for workers at the 5m a year firm to climb inside and clear any jams.
In addition an emergency stop button had been wired out because it was clogged with dust but no warning sign had been put up.
Failure
On December 22 2003 Mr Arnup, 36, of Thorpe Hamlet, was with Jason, who worked part-time at the firm, and another colleague when the machine jammed. After failing to clear it from the top, foreman Mr Arnup asked a colleague to turn it off so he and his son could climb inside and unblock the chamber.
But only the faulty emergency stop button was pressed with workers unaware that in reality the machine was merely paused between the two stages of starting up. Shouts were heard inside the shredder and White, who had just returned to the warehouse, managed to stop the machine. Another worker pulled Jason to safety but Mr Arnup was dragged through the rotors.
Prosecutor William Coker said if a lockable isolating switch was installed, in accordance to health and safety guidelines, the tragedy would never have happened. He described White's actions as “serious breaches of his duty of care to his employees” and “a clear illustration of a casual attitude to health and safety”.
Loss
Graham Parkins, defending White, said he had suffered not only losing a valued employee but also a friend. Mr Parkins said Mr Arnup had ignored White's warnings that his son should not have been working on the machine and that there were other times when White was unaware of warehouse practices.
Sentencing White to a year in jail a 30,000 fine, Judge Justice Bell described the breaches as “chronic” and the risk of death obvious but easy to avoid. Mr White and his company were also ordered to pay costs of 55,000, however the judge said the failures were not down to trying to cutting corners financially.
He told White: “Only an immediate custodial sentence will suffice as punishment for you and to make it clear courts will not countenance a situation such as arose in this case.”
Mr Arnup left two grandchildren, with two more born after his death, and three children.
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