Cleveland Steel and Tubes Ltd Fined Following Worker’s Fatal Accident
A North Yorkshire-based steel company, Cleveland Steel and Tubes Ltd, has been fined £250,000 after the tragic death of a worker in November 2022. The incident occurred at the company's Dalton facility, near Thirsk, when the 63-year-old employee became entangled in machinery that was used to strip coatings off metal pipes. Despite immediate attempts by his colleagues and the arrival of paramedics, the worker tragically died at the scene.
Details of the Incident
The incident took place when the worker was involved in the operation of a machine designed to remove coatings from metal pipes, including large, five-tonne steel pipes. During the process, the worker became trapped in the machinery, which lacked adequate safety guards to prevent contact with its moving parts. This failure in safeguarding led to the fatal accident.
Investigation and Findings
An investigation conducted by the North Yorkshire Council’s environmental health team, in collaboration with a specialist from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), found that the machine in question did not have the proper guard. Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 requires businesses to ensure that all dangerous machinery parts are appropriately guarded to prevent accidents. The investigation revealed that Cleveland Steel and Tubes Ltd had not adhered to this critical safety requirement, resulting in the worker's death.
Legal Outcome
Cleveland Steel and Tubes Ltd pleaded guilty to one offence under Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. The charge was related to the company's failure to ensure that the dangerous parts of the machinery were properly guarded.
In addition to the £250,000 fine, the company was also ordered to pay £9,796 in costs and a victim surcharge of £2,000. The court also heard that after the incident, a prohibition notice was issued by environmental health officials, supported by the HSE inspector, which prohibited the continued use of the unsafe equipment. The company complied with the prohibition notice in June 2023 by installing the necessary safety guards on the machinery.
Statements from Authorities
Cllr Greg White, the executive member for regulatory services at North Yorkshire Council, expressed sympathy for the family and friends of the deceased worker. He emphasized the importance of companies adhering to safety regulations to prevent such tragic accidents. He stated, "We believe this death could have been prevented had the company adhered to safe working practices and procedures, in particular ensuring the dangerous moving parts of the machine in question were guarded."
He also added, "The health, safety, and welfare of employees is paramount, and we would remind all businesses of their duty to ensure equipment is safe to use and the risks of doing so have been suitably assessed. North Yorkshire Council will not hesitate to take action where we find these standards have not been met."
