An employee named Anthony Cripps was crushed to death under the wheels of a telehandler when he fell out from the vehicle’s bucket in which he was riding. Cripps was employed with a farm named Daylesford Organic Farms Limited. The farm is based in Marsh, Gloucestershire but registered in
Following the accident that occurred on 5 June 2007, the farm was prosecuted by HSE. It was accused of failure to comply with health and safety norms.
Cripps was a market gardener engaged in the collection of elderflowers from hedgerows as part of the elderflower harvest. He and a fellow-gardener were being transported in the bucket of the telehandler across the field when the accident occurred. During the ride, Cripps fell under the offside wheels of the machine.
On being accused of manslaughter, the company accepted its guilt before the court. It admitted to violating Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. A fine of £65,000 has been imposed on the company. The court has also asked the company to pay costs of £27,500. The prosecution and hearing took place at Gloucester Crown Court on 11 December 2009, more than two years after the accident took place.
A company spokesperson however said that health and safety are of paramount importance for the company. Nevertheless, he did not hesitate to admit that there had been some negligence on part of the management, leading to the tragic accident.
The integration of good safety management systems is an essential principle of any business. Companies need to be sure that they are giving the correct instructions to employees with regard to health and safety issues. The health and safety consultants from Workplace Law can assist companies in training staff to be aware of the proper health and safety procedures by identifying and improving upon awareness and attitude, and communication about safety to improve the health and safety environment within an organisation.