An industry manufacturer has been fined after a worker was crushed to death by machinery during a lifting operation.

Parker Hannifin Manufacturing Ltd, Maylands Avenue, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire pleaded guilty to breaching Reg 3(1) of Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety of Work etc Act 1974.

It was fined £1 million with £6,311 in costs and a victim surcharge of £120.

Lincoln Magistrates Court heard how Colin Reddish, 48, was involved in moving a large CNC milling machine at Parker Hannifin Manufacturing's Grantham factory on 30 April 2015.


The machine had been lifted using jacks and placed onto skates, allowing Mr Reddish access to use an angle grinder to cut and remove bolts that had secured it to the floor. However during this work, the machine overturned and killed him. Mr Reddish was working alone at the time.

The court heard how the company had not ensured workers in charge with lifting and moving the machine were sufficiently trained and had the right experience to carry out this activity.

In addition, an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the work had not been properly planned. The machine's centre of gravity had not been assessed and taken into account before the lifting operation took place, resulting in an unsafe system of work for the job with fatal consequences.

HSE Inspector Martin Giles said: "Colin Reddish's death was entirely preventable. Parker Hannifin Manufacturing Ltd had already tried unsuccessfully to lift the machine using a fork lift truck but instead of learning from this failure they carried on. Their ad hoc approach to managing dangerous tasks resulted in one of their workers losing his life."

(LM/MH)