Rendering firm's fine cut on appeal

A Staffordshire rendering firm has had a massive fine, imposed following the death of a worker, cut on appeal.

John Pointon and Sons, Cheddleton, were fined a total of £700,000 at Staffordshire Crown Court last year after an employee died trying to save a co worker who had become stuck as he tried to unblock an enclosed rendering tank.

The company had admitted breaches of health and safety regulations.

However the size of the fine was cut to £500,000 after appeal judge Lord Justice Gage said the original court had not given enough weight to mitigating factors.

He went on :"The consequences of the company's failure in this case were tragic and ought to have been avoided, but we accept the submission that the line in questions had not been in use for very long before the incident.

"The company has no previous convictions and, since the accident, has done a great deal to improve safety in its processes."

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

Bookmark this

---