FG Wilson Fined Over Employee's Death

A Co Antrim manufacturer of diesel and gas generator sets has been heavily fined over the death of a worker.

The fine of £90,000 plus costs came as F.G. Wilson (Engineering) Ltd entered a guilty plea at Antrim Crown Court to breaches of health and safety law. The case was brought by the Health and Safety Executive NI (HSENI) and related to an incident that occurred on 9th October 2008 at the company's premises in Larne.

Roy Montgomery, a 55-year-old maintenance fitter employed by the firm, died when he was crushed between a moving crane and a roof beam.

At the time of the incident, he was involved in a maintenance operation on the crane, which was being controlled by a colleague at ground level.

The crane was moved as part of the work and Mr Montgomery was crushed in an eleven-centimetre gap between the top of the crane and a roof beam.

A subsequent investigation by HSENI revealed that F.G. Wilson (Engineering) Ltd. had not sufficiently assessed the risks involved in the activity. In addition, the company had neither developed an adequate safe system of work nor supervised the activities of its employees.

Louis Burns, Head of HSENI's Major Investigation Team said: "The risks in this situation would have been easily identified by even the most basic risk assessment.

"Maintenance operations by their nature can be dangerous and companies need to properly identify and address hazards within the workplace. Employees need to have proper training and supervision. Some very simple precautions would have prevented this tragedy."

(NS/BMcC)