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A company in the haulage industry has been served a hefty fine of £250,000 following the tragic death of an employee due to a workplace incident. The fatal accident occurred when Gary Lee James, a yard hand at Ward Brothers (Malton) Ltd’s depot in South Bank, Teesside, was working on stripping clothing frames inside a shipping container. The heavy racks collapsed on him, leading to his unfortunate demise three days later, as a result of asphyxia, cardiac arrest, and brain injury.
At the recent Teesside Crown Court hearing, it was revealed that Mr. James, along with a 16-year-old colleague, were carrying out risky tasks in inadequate lighting without proper safety gear or comprehensive training. Prosecutors for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) outlined that the firm had adopted an unsafe and disorganized approach to work, leaving employees to devise their own potentially hazardous methods. Employees were instructed to stack the frames vertically, rather than horizontally, to optimize space utilization, a decision that ultimately resulted in the fatal accident.
Following the tragic incident, statements from Mr. James’ loved ones highlighted the profound impact his loss had on them. The lack of contact and communication from the company since the incident further exacerbated their grief. Despite the company’s plea of guilt to the health and safety breach, the family’s anguish and devastation were evident, underscoring the irreplaceable loss they have suffered.
During the trial, it was emphasized that the company had not met the requisite industry standards concerning employee safety, leading to the catastrophic outcome. The defense acknowledged the negligence on the company’s part but also highlighted their efforts to rectify the situation by implementing enhanced safety measures and suspending the hazardous work practices that led to Mr. James’ untimely death. Ultimately, as the Judge delivered the sentence, condolences were extended to Mr. James’ family, recognizing that his passing had left a significant void in their lives
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