North Lincolnshire Council has been fined following the death of Andrew Matthews after his car drove into a swing barrier gate at Foxhills sports ground in Scunthorpe.
The father of two had travelled to watch his son play football at the sports ground when the unsecured barrier swung into a dangerous position. Mr Matthews was not able to see the barrier as he drove towards it and the end section of the barrier crashed through the windscreen causing fatal head injuries.
North Lincolnshire Council pleaded guilty to a breach of their duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Chris Gallagher, HSE Principal Inspector called the tragic death of Mr Matthews wholly avoidable and further added, ''a significant number of people have been killed or injured in incidents involving horizontal swing barriers in car parks. Duty holders should carry out a suitable risk assessment so that potential dangers are identified and suitable precautions are put in place. These include making sure such barriers can be locked open and shut to suitable fixing posts preferably with a padlock so they cannot swing open and present an impalement risk.''
Hull Crown Court fined the Council £160,000 for the breach and ordered them to pay £40,476 in costs.
