Contractors and individuals fined over worker's death

Nottingham crown court has fined two contractors and two individuals nearly £200,000 in total following the death of a worker in a distribution plant.

German Hans Zdolsek died after plunging 28 ft while working at a Wilkinsons site in February 2004.

Following an investigation it transpired that plastic tie wraps were being used to secure guardrails, which the site's health and safety officer was aware of but did nothing about.

Health and Safety Executive inspector Mark Dawson told the Contract Journal that the use of plastic ties as a safety measure was particularly poor.

"It seems almost inconceivable that professional people should consider plastic tie wraps to be a suitable means of securing guard rails," he said.

The principal contractor for the site, Siemens Dematic, now operating as Oldbury (Banbury), incurred a total of £147,000 in fines and costs, while racking installation contractors Stow (UK) was ordered to pay an £80,000 penalty and £41,000 in costs.

Both companies, along with David Hill, Siemens' project manager for the site and David Hastie, the health and safety officer, were both found guilty of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Recently a roofing firm boss was jailed for manslaughter after an employee fell through a skylight onto a concrete floor.