Aylesbury Crown Court found Veolia guilty last week (Thursday 11 February) under Sections 3 (1) and 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. In addition to the £130,000 fine, the firm was also ordered to pay £220,000 in costs.
Section 2(1) puts a duty on employers to ensure, as far as is practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all its employees, while 3(1) requires employers to ensure that, as far as reasonably practicable, that persons not in their employment are not exposed to health and safety risks.
Commenting on the case, Dennis MacWilliam, inspector at the Health and Safety Executive, said: “This was an extremely tragic incident which has now left Mr Ives' widow to continue life without a loving husband. It could have been avoided if only a few simple measures had been in place.
“Employers are legally required to make sure their equipment is regularly maintained and is fit for use by their workers. If the bin hoist on the recycling lorry had been maintained this incident would never have happened.”
Veolia
Responding to the fine, Veolia said it had “invested significantly” in training and equipment over the past five years, in a bid to reduce accidents and increase health and safety awareness.
Richard Berry, executive director of Veolia Environmental Services said: “No workplace accident is acceptable. Both legally and morally we have an obligation to take all reasonable steps to prevent such accidents.
“At the time we had many safeguards in place, but the jury has concluded that in this particular case our efforts did not meet the high standard required.”
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