Waste Management Companies Fined £140,000 Following Workplace Fatality

The incident took place at Environmental Tyre Disposals Ltd's (ETD) tire recycling site at Stonehill Business Park, Edmonton, London on July 1, where MIDCO Waste Management Ltd also operate a tire shredding business.

Aseidu, who was employed by ETD, was instructed to support MIDCO staff in shredding tires. It was during this operation, while Aseidu was driving a telescopic reach truck that it toppled over, crushing him between the side of the truck and the ground. 

The investigation found that both companies failed to take adequate measures to prevent or control risks arising from the use of the truck by untrained operators. 

Simon Hester, HSE investigating inspector commented: "Mr Aseidu was employed by ETD primarily as a tire checker. He was not trained to operate the loader which was the task he undertook on that day and which cost him his life. The people best placed to make workplaces safe from harm are the managers and staff who work in them, but only if they are aware of the dangers and risks and how to work safely when those risks arise. A risk assessment, adequate supervision and suitable training were all absent in this case. This left the level of safety provided by both companies far below the required standard.”