Employer fined over airport tragedy
26/01/2010
Aviance UK has been fined £90,000 after a Heathrow Airport worker was crushed to death by an electric vehicle.
Maintenance engineer Mohammed Taj, of west London, died in March 2008 when the vehicle - used to pull baggage and other supplies to planes - fell on his head.
The Old Bailey heard that the tug had broken down and 52-year-old Mr Taj had jacked it up from the rear to check its brakes, without using any other support underneath. As another worker was adjusting the steering, the vehicle fell from the jack and crushed Mr Taj.
Aviance, of Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, pleaded guilty to breaching Health and Safety law in not ensuring the safety of its employee.
Judge Richard Hawkins said: "The company was shown on this occasion to have fallen short of its duty of care. This, however, was not in any sense a deliberate breach of the law. It is accepted by the prosecution that the company had a good safety record."
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