Directors 'need health and safety awareness'

Company directors should be aware of their duty to protect the health and safety of their workers, which may interest those thinking of corporate manslaughter training.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reminded bosses of their responsibilities after a company owner was fined following the death of a 17-year-old worker.

Nottingham Crown Court fined Christopher John Pridmore, of Scholars Way, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, £7,500 and ordered him to pay costs of £2,500, after he entered a guilty plea for a breach of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations.

Simon Murphy, an apprentice at Chris Pridmore Joinery's workshop, died when a stack of MDF boards fell on him in November 2006.

Maureen Kingman, HSE inspector, commented: "This was a tragic loss of a young life which could have been easily avoided. Mr Pridmore neglected to provide safe arrangements for the storage of sheets of MDF boards."

In January, an East Sussex company director was jailed for 12 months following the death of a 20-year-old worker.

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