A grain storage company has been fined £180,000 following the death of a worker.
Edward Orlopp, who was a site manager at Camgrain Stores’ site in Linton, Cambridgeshire, died after being hit by a lorry.
The company pleaded guilty to breaching s 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act and was fined at Peterborough Crown Court on Wednesday. It was also ordered to pay costs of £20,000.
The court was told that on 27 July 2016 Orlopp walked out of the control room and in front of the moving vehicle.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said despite checking his mirrors the driver did not see Orlopp. Its investigation found that Camgrain Stores – a farming co-operative that handles wheat, barley and other crops at four sites – had failed to ensure that pedestrians and vehicles could move safely around the site. It had not provided measures to prevent employees walking into areas where large vehicles were operating.
Inspector Stephen Faulkner said after the hearing: “Being struck by vehicles is one of the most common causes of workplace fatal accidents. This was a tragic and wholly unavoidable incident caused by failure of the host company to undertake a number of simple measures.”
IOSH Magazine