J Murray & Son Ltd have been fined £100,000, plus £10,450 costs, at Belfast's Laganside Crown Court for health and safety failings that led to the death of 47-year-old Norman Porter.
The incident took place at an animal feed mixing plant on 28 February 2012. Mr Porter, who was only eight weeks into his employment with the company, died after he became entangled in moving parts of a meal blending machine. The investigation revealed the company had removed safety panels from the top of the mixer to allow raw ingredients to be added more easily. This exposed the dangerous moving parts of the machine, which the company failed to identify and correct.
Following the hearing, Kevin Campbell, an Inspector with the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland's (HSE NI) Major Investigation Team said, "This case highlights the importance of proper management of health and safety in the workplace. Management need to ensure that all aspects of their work are adequately addressed, with appropriate measures put in place where necessary. The removal of safety guards from the machine and the continued use of the machine ultimately led to the death of Norman Porter. The company allowed the use of the unsafe machine."
He went on to say, "I strongly urge that all levels of management actively ensure that health and safety within their workplace is taken seriously to prevent another worker from needlessly losing his or her life."
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