SITA fined 180,000 following workers death

The Health and Safety Executive brought the case following an incident on August 16 2005 in which employee Paul McGuire, 33, was fatally injured while using a baling machine for paper and cardboard at the site in Cricklade, north of Swindon (see letsrecycle.com story).

SITA, which was also ordered to pay £38,000 in costs in the case heard last Friday (December 12), pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, after Mr McGuire fell into the baling machine after being left alone to operate the equipment despite not having authorisation or training to do so.

The plea related to SITA UK 'failing to ensure, so far as was reasonable practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of their employees, including Paul McGuire, during the use of the Jovisa baling machine and associated conveyor and hopper, in that safter plant, adequate supervision and safe systems of work had not been provided or maintained.”

HSE Principal Inspector, Andrew Kingscott, said after the hearing: “The company failed to ensure that the plant was safe and that written safe working practices were relevant, clear and understood by site staff. Management and supervision were not adequate and did not ensure that blockages were handled in a safely controlled manner.

“It is important that all risks are adequately assessed and controlled in all areas of recycling. There need to be robust and effective controls to ensure that blockages can be cleared in a safe manner,” he added.

Incident

The court heard how the baling machine became jammed, which led to Mr McGuire climbing up the conveyor belt and falling into the hopper as he was attempting to clear the blockage. The baler had not been isolated or locked off and so Mr McGuire was killed by the mechanism of the baler after falling into the chamber.

A spokesman for Berkshire-based SITA UK said: “SITA UK accepts responsibility for the tragic death of Paul McGuire. Paul was a valued member of our team and we would like to reiterate our condolences to his family and friends.

“We have cooperated with the authorities throughout their investigations. Although the Judge accepted the mitigation presented on behalf of the company, we acknowledge that this accident should have never happened and we have taken numerous measures to ensure that a similar incident does not happen again,” he added.

Following the case, Mr Kingscott warned of the potential risks presented at recycling sites.

He said: “All work should be appropriately supervised and particular attention needs to be given to the potential for falls. For example, fixed safe access platforms should be provided where there is a routine need for working at height.

“The implementation of these measures and observation of the appropriate health and safety guidance by responsible employers should go a long way to reducing the number of incidents in the waste recycling sector, particularly the kind of horrific accident which claimed Paul McGuire's life,” he added.

Currently, the waste recycling industry reports a high rate of fatal and serious accidents compared to other sectors (see letsrecycle.com story), and the HSE is now working closely with the industry to reduce the “unacceptably high levels” of injury by continuing proactive inspections as part of a national campaign known as “Safe Interventions” and by offering regular updates of safety information in the waste management section of its website.