Firm fined £20,000 after worker is crushed to death

4:42pm Friday 15th September 2006

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A FIRM in Westhoughton has been fined the maximum of £20,000 after one of its workers was crushed to death.

Barkston Plastics Forming, of Wingates Industrial Estate, appeared before magistrates in Trafford following the death of Philip Ashcroft.

It admitted failing to ensure the safety of an employee.

In addition to its fine, the firm was also ordered to pay £5,100 costs.

Father-of-one Mr Ashcroft, from Aspull, had been working inside a vacuum press machine on September 4, 2002, when it began to operate, trapping him inside.

His best friend, Lee Edwards, battled for more than 20 minutes to free him and colleagues used a fork lift truck to prize open the two metal plates which trapped his upper body.

Mr Ashcroft, who had just celebrated his 22nd birthday, was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to hospital where he lost his fight for life 10 hours later after surgery.

His death prompted an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the firm was subsequently charged under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

The HSE told magistrates the company had a written safe system of work for the operation carried out by Mr Ashcroft.

But the HSE alleged this system was routinely not followed and that the machine was entered without being correctly isolated from a power source.

It was also alleged that the system of work itself was not suitable for the task and did not follow published HSE guidelines.

The company had also not provided suitable training for managers and employees, and an effective supervisory and monitoring system was not implemented, Trafford magistrates were told.