£300k fine over sweet factory death
26/04/2010
A man was crushed to death in a machine at Britain's biggest confectionery firm, resulting in a £300,000 fine.
Foreign worker Martin Pejril was trying to unblock a sweet-making machine when it restarted suddenly, trapping him, say health and safety watchdogs.
The Czech-born 33-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene at the Tangerine Confectionery factory in Alder Road, Poole.
The accident happened on February 20, 2008, at the firm which makes sweets such as Sherbet Dip Dabs, Mojos and Black Jacks as well as Butterkist popcorn.
The company, whose head office is in Blackpool, was found guilty of two breaches of health and safety law by failing to ensure the safety at work of its employees and failing to make sufficient risk assessments.
The company recently appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court for sentencing. It was fined £150,000 on each of the two safety breaches and ordered to pay legal costs of £72,901.
A spokeswoman for the firm said: "Tangerine Confectionery is committed to maintaining and investing in the best possible safety standards and our sympathies remain with his family for this tragic accident.
"We remain disappointed in the conviction and the sentence imposed by the court in relation to this matter and will be considering the company's position in relation to an appeal."
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