JCB have this month been fined more than £450,000 over the death of two employees in "preventable" circumstances.
In the first case, JCB Earthmovers Limited were fined £200,000 at Stafford Crown Court following the death of welder Darren Ellis, in Cheadle on 16 November 2005. Mr Ellis was testing the fuel tank of an earth moving machine for leaks when he incorrectly connected a high pressure air-line, causing the inspection plate to blow off. He died after receiving fatal head injuries and the court heard that Mr Ellis had not received adequate training for the job.
In a separate incident, JC Bamford Excavators Limited were fined £266,000 and ordered to pay court costs for a similar breach which resulted in the death of Paul McNamara, at Rocester, Staffordshire on 11 September 2006. Mr McNamara was crushed by the boom of an excavating machine.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector Lynne Boulton said both companies pleaded guilty and that the deaths were entirely preventable. "All employers must learn from these tragedies that, whatever the task, it is crucial to undertake a suitable risk assessment that deals with the significant risks of that task."
