Sims Group UK Ltd. was fined £200,000 (US$300,000) for an accident that killed a driver at the company’s Newport, U.K., facility. The accident occurred April 28, 2008.
The British Government’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Sims Group UK Ltd., after truck driver Adrian Turner was crushed by a metal bale which rolled off the heap.
According to release issued by the HSE, Sims Group pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and at Cardiff Crown Court the company were fined £200,000 and ordered to pay £57,500 costs.
HSE inspector Sarah Baldwin-Jones notes: "Metal recycling yards can be extremely dangerous places so it's imperative companies have safe working procedures and systems in place that are observed by all staff and contractors.
"This tragic incident arose because it was custom for the loading of scrap onto the stockpile even though delivery drivers were in the immediate vicinity of it.”