Contractors fined £200k for worker death

Two contractors and two individuals have received fines totalling nearly £200,000 for contributing to the death of a German worker in a distribution plant in Worksop, Nottinghamshire.

Hans Zdolsek died after he fell 28ft while working at a Wilkinsons depot on 20 February 2004.

On Friday at Nottingham Crown Court, principal contractor for the site, Siemens Dematic Ltd (now known as Oldbury (Banbury) Ltd), was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay more than £47,000 costs.

Another company, racking installation contractors Stow (UK) Ltd, was fined £80,000 with costs of £41,000.

Both companies pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for failing to adequately manage the risks on the site.

David Hill, Siemens' project manager for the site, was found not guilty of manslaughter but pleaded guilty to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act following his failure to take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself and others.

Mr Hill was fined £2,500 with £500 in costs.

The site's health and safety officer David Hastie also pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act and was fined £2,500 and £500 costs.

He admitted he knew plastic tie-wraps were being used to secure guardrails but did nothing to intervene.

The sentences come after a joint prosecution by Nottinghamshire Police and the Health and Safety Executive.