Firm fined over conveyor belt death

A firm was fined £20,000 for safety breaches which led to the death of a maintenance fitter, it has emerged.

Paul Greenwood, 51, was crushed to death when he fell into a moving conveyor belt at a factory in Cramlington, Northumberland, in October 2001.

A jury at Newcastle Crown Court found factory owners Cova Products guilty of two safety breaches following a prosecution brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

An HSE spokeswoman said that Cova Products was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,603.

Mr Greenwood was employed by Rochdale-based contractors Carter Bros and had been called in to repair machinery which had broken down.

The court heard he fell through a gap in a platform above the conveyor belt and was crushed to death.

The HSE said the belt should have been turned off while the work was carried out.

Cova Products had denied two breaches of safety.

The jury found Carter Bros not guilty on a single charge. A not guilty plea had been entered on its behalf. The firm has gone into liquidation and was not represented in court.