Firm fined £80,000 for digger death
20/01/2010
A Welsh construction company fined after one of its employees suffered fatal injuries in a digger accident has said it is "deeply sorry" for the incident.
Bridgend-based Macob Administration Ltd pleaded guilty to two breaches of the Health and Safety Act and was fined £80,000 at Gloucester Crown Court.
The court heard 23-year-old Lance Taylor, of Thornbury, Gloucestershire, died five years ago after he leaned out of a digger - which he was not trained to use - and accidentally hit a lever causing the digger arm to strike his head while working on a housing development in Abbeymead, Gloucester.
A company spokeswoman said: "The company is deeply sorry for the tragic events of 11 February 2005 and offers its full condolences to the family and friends of Lance Taylor. During the intervening years the company has sought to ensure so far as possible that a similar incident could not occur again."
After the case, Health and Safety Executive Martin Lee said: "Construction site managers need to know which workers on site are qualified to operate the machinery and that their control systems are working effectively."
Judge William Hart also gave the firm a year to pay £29,000 towards prosecution costs.
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