Two businessmen have been jailed for the manslaughter of a worker who was crushed to death at a concrete plant. The 28 year old technician was killed at the Concrete Company on the Longwater Industrial Estate, at Costessey, Norfolk, in November 2005 after he became caught in an unguarded slew conveyer which carried aggregate and sand up to the hoppers where cement is manufactured. He was pronounced dead at the scene and a post-mortem examination revealed he had died from multiple injuries.
Owner Timothy Dighton and area manager Roy Burrows both pleaded guilty at Norwich Crown Court to breaching health and safety legislation and were jailed for a year and nine months, respectively. The company itself were also fined a total of £164,000. Justin McCracken, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) deputy chief inspector said, "This tragic and wasteful death could and should have been avoided by very simple and straightforward safety precautions. HSE inspectors regularly come across examples of poor health and safety standards at workplaces but those involved in this case were appalled by the total lack of basic health and safety measures at this company's site."
Judge Peter Jacobs said the two men had overall control of the plant where the emphasis was on "productivity and nothing else. They should have known the plant was unsafe and should not have allowed the situation to continue."
