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Man crushed by 24-tonne lorry in health and safety breach

Health and safety breaches caused a 47-year-old man to be crushed to death underneath a 24-tonne lorry, Northampton Crown Court has heard.

The incident involving commercial vehicle repair centre FW Abbot occurred in June 2007 at its site in Kettering.

Martin John Carswell, an employee of the company, was carrying out work on the drain cleaning vehicle when equipment which was holding it in the air collapsed.

After pleading guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act, the firm was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay costs of £25,000.

Neil Craig, an inspector at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), said: "Working beneath these heavy vehicles can be very dangerous.

"The company should have completed a proper risk assessment and trained their employees in a safe system of work," he added.

HSE figures show there were 58 workplace fatalities between April 1st and June 30th 2009, 30 of which occurred within the service sector.

Quantum Risk Management are a leading Health and Safety Consultancy

Posted on 03/12/2009

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