A recycling company has been fined a total of £37,904 after a Romanian worker lost his leg due to corporate negligence.
Ethos Recycling, Uxbridge, was found guilty of breaching two sections of the Health and Safety Act, after Nicolai Danut-Puiu, 38, was hit by a 20-tonne loading shovel, and needed his right leg amputated.
A Heath and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found there were no clearly identified walkways on site, which meant that heavy plant and pedestrians had to operate in dangerously close proximity to each other. Danut-Puiu spoke little English, and had only worked at the site a few weeks.
Zameer Bhunnoo, HSE investigating inspector, said: “With the increase of foreign workers in Britain, it is essential that companies that need their skills take care to ensure workers fully understand what is required of them, and how to avoid risks in the workplace. In addition, the risks arising from the movement of vehicles in the workplace must be properly controlled. Workplace transport continues to be one of the main causes of fatal and major injuries.”
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Earlier this year, construction union Ucatt was “severely disappointed” about the new Corporate Manslaughter Bill, which failed to make directors personally responsible if corporate negligence leads to the death of a worker.
