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Fine for firm after health and safety failures led to death

A Greater Manchester company has been fined £140,000 after health and safety failures led to the death of one of its employees.

Abel Lages worked as a cleaner at Rochdale plastics manufacturer TS (UK) Ltd and was killed when he was crushed by a pallet of bags weighing more than a tonne.

Following an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident - which occurred at Stakehill Industrial Estate in Middleton - the firm was prosecuted.

At the resulting court case, the company pleaded guilty and as a result was ordered to pay the fine, as well as more than £10,000 in costs.

John McGrellis, one of HSE's principal inspectors for the Greater Manchester area, said: "Mr Lages died because TS (UK) Ltd didn't treat the health and safety of its workers as a priority."

This follows the news that Comet Group was fined £75,000 after a worker died due to health and safety failings after falling through a roof light above a store in Wrexham.

Quantum Risk Management are a leading Health and Safety Consultancy

Posted on 09/07/2010

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