Firms fined ?140,000 over death at work

UK-- TWO Edmonton firms have been fined a total of ?140,000 after a man died at work.

Thomas Aseidu-Ampofoh, 31, originally from Ghana, was crushed by a truck he was driving on July 1, 2001.

He was working at Environmental Tyre Disposals Ltd (ETD), Stonehill Business Park, Edmonton, where MIDCO Waste Management Ltd also operates a tyre shredding business.

Mr Aseidu, who is survived by his wife and 12-year-old son, was employed by ETD and had been instructed to help MIDCO staff shred a backlog of tyres.

The worker, had not been trained to use the truck he was driving and was under no supervision at the time of the accident.

He was also not wearing the seatbelt, which would have saved his life, according to Simon Hester, the Health and Safety Executive investigating inspector who looked into the incident.

He described the firm as having "a lack of management" and being "a shoddy operation" at the Old Bailey,

He added: "A risk assessment, adequate supervision and suitable training were all absent."

Keith Flett, chairman of the Haringey Trades Council, said: "People should not die at work in the 21st century and this is a very sad case indeed.

"It is also a warning to employers that they cannot ignore safety at work, and if they do, legal action and heavy fines can result."

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