A recycling firm fined almost £1 million for breaching health and safety has apologised, after an agency worker was killed on the site.
Agency worker Karlis Pavasors died while cleaning near a conveyor at the Mid-UK Recycling Limited base in Barkston Heath near Ancaster on July 19, 2013.
The company was fined £880,000 and ordered to pay costs of £100,000 at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday, November 10.
Managing director Christopher Mountain and former operations director Alan Munson both pleaded guilty to breaching Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Both were given a 20 week prison sentence suspended for two years.
Mountain was also fined £50,000.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that the “horrific fatality” could have been avoided.
Speaking after sentencing, Christopher Mountain said: “We are extremely sorry that this accident occurred and our thoughts remain with Mr Pavasars’ family.
“We have recognised that while we thought our processes were rigorous, there were clearly gaps in our systems which allowed this to happen.
“It is a hard lesson learned but since 2013 we have worked extremely hard to make sure we have as much as possible in place to prevent such a tragic incident ever happening again.”
The company said since the incident it has invested heavily in improving its health and safety systems and has strengthened its management team to ensure there is a strong health and safety culture across every area of the business.
It has employed a full-time experienced health and safety manager, as well as a director with responsibility for health and safety.
In terms of on-site changes, the company has introduced a new traffic management system and safety walking routes for pedestrians.
It also carries out regular internal audits and spot checks on health and safety, as well as employing an external auditor to carry out health and safety reviews.
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