Firm fined after worker's death

Lincoln Crown Court heard Mr Blades did not take risks

A Lincs packaging company was fined £75,000 after a worker was dragged into a machine and crushed to death.

Colin Blades, 34, of Louth, had reached inside a press to free a blockage when he inadvertently started it up again.

A preventative measure would have cost DS Smith Packaging Ltd of Northfields, Louth, less than £100, Lincoln Crown Court heard.

The firm admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act by failing to ensure the worker's safety.

Mr Blades was killed whilst on a night shift at the plant in Northfields in Louth on 4 August 2004, the court heard.

Safety Measures

David Travers, prosecuting, said the danger - caused by the fitting of a smaller conveyor belt - should have been clear and foreseeable to the firm.

He added that Mr Blades was considered a careful worker who did not take risks.

Prashant Popat, defending, said the firm had since taken measures to ensure nothing similar happened again.

The company was also ordered to pay £13,300 in costs.

Judge Jeremy Lea said he accepted the firm had not taken a risk to increase its profits, but there had been a failure to foresee that the lack of safety on the machine might result in "catastrophic injury or death".

After the hearing Simon Jones, of the Health and Safety Executive, said a metal plate costing just £100 would have prevented the accident.