Egg supplier Sunrise Poultry Farms has been fined £233,000 after a 19-year-old was crushed between a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) and a wall.
Ben Spencer had been working for Sunrise Eggs in Loughborough for two weeks before he died on April 12, 2021.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident found that measures in place for segregating pedestrians and moving vehicles were “wholly inadequate”.
Sunrise Poultry Farms, of Seagrave Road, Sileby, Loughborough, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 17 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.
The company was ordered to pay a fine of £233,000 plus costs of £8,841 at a hearing at Leicester Magistrates Court yesterday (Wednesday, November 22).
‘Tragic death’ involving HGV
The HSE said the HGV was attempting a “complex manoeuvre” towards a narrow thoroughfare at the Seagrave Road premises as Spencer was walking towards it.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE enforcement lawyer Andy Siddall said: “The company admitted failing to segregate vehicles and pedestrians at its workplace in Sileby and that resulted in the tragic death of Ben.
“Accidents like this simply shouldn’t happen and a mother shouldn’t have to hold the hand of her son as he lies dying in the workplace.
“So please check your workplace transport risk assessments, think carefully, and ensure that everybody goes home safely.”
HSE inspector Alex Nayar said: “Our thoughts today are with Ben’s family and friends.
“He was at the start of his working life… Ben’s death could have easily been prevented if they had adequately assessed and controlled the risks associated with workplace transport, a leading cause of death in the workplace.”
‘He’s not here’
Ben Spencer’s mother, Tracy, said: “I cry when I leave the house and I cry when I get back, because he’s not here. I hear noises and look up expecting to see Ben coming round the back.
“Sunrise Poultry was Ben’s first real job and with it came a conversation about the future, his own home, learning to drive and saving.
“If I could just curl up in a ball I would.”
Tracy said her life “revolved around Ben”, and now she feels as though she has “no life”.
“I find myself keeping my distance from everyone, I just can’t cope with the idea of feeling close to someone, even my family.
“I still can’t go in Ben’s bedroom. It’s still the same as the last day he went to work.
“I can’t bring myself to make the bed and have tied the door shut so the dog can’t go in there. I have tried to make myself go in there, but I just can’t walk across the threshold.”
