Death firm 'put cash before safety'
09/07/2010
Staff reported 15 near misses before a worker was crushed to death by falling pallets at a company which put "profits before safety", a court heard.
Cleaner Abel Lages was crushed by two 1,375kg pallets as he swept the yard of TS (UK) Ltd's plastics factory in Stakehill Industrial Estate, Middleton, Greater Manchester, and died at the scene on July 15, 2005.
The firm was fined £140,000 after being prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive for failing to ensure the safety of its employees, and not having a worker trained in First Aid on duty.
Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester heard pallets were being stacked on top of one another to save space, and that the company operated virtually no health and safety practices.
Staff at the Italian-owned firm were told to "get on with it" or face losing their job, the court was told.
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