Employee John Penhalagan, 44, was struck by a crane hook weighing 3.7 tonnes used to convey ladles of molten steel in the firm's new 'melt' shop on 30 May 2007 at the company's premises in Cardiff. The Bridgend resident suffered fatal head injuries and died later at the University of Wales Hospital in Cardiff.
The company did not address the fact that the hooks were able to move at head height near to operators on the ground
Stephen Jones, HSE
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that, while there were no defects with the crane, the hook was able to move at head height near the operators on the ground without adequate safeguards.
Celsa was prosecuted in Cardiff Crown Court and fined £200,000 after pleading guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The Act obligates employers to ensure that the health, safety and welfare of employees is ensured as much as reasonably possible.
In addition to the fine, the company, which is situated on Moors Works Road in the south east of the city, was also ordered to pay £36,294.38 in costs.
After sentencing, HSE inspector Stephen Jones said: “This was a horrific incident – an extremely heavy, moving piece of equipment was able to strike Mr Penhalagan directly in the head because Celsa Manufacturing didn't have safe systems of work in place.”
Mr Jones added that Celsa had moved its operations to a new melt shop shortly before the incident and that there was no mechanical defect with the crane.
However, he said: “The company did not address the fact that the hooks were able to move at head height near to operators on the ground. The system of work did not enable crane operators at the site to clearly see employees working on the ground, putting them at serious risk of being struck by moving objects.”
Mr Jones added that the company had failed to put in place the adequate provisions following an assessment of its operations in the melt shop.
He said: “Celsa should have put in place a thorough risk assessment and most importantly acted upon that assessment, given the generally hazardous nature of this type of operation – but sadly the plans in place were just not adequate and led to this man's terrible death.”
Celsa Manufacturing (UK) is a subsidiary of Spanish metal manufacturer Celsa Group and primarily produces steel products, with a proportion being formed from recovered scrap metal.
A spokesman from Celsa said the company would release a statement regarding the fine later today (November 18).
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