Boss sentenced after worker crushed to death

An investigation found the forklift truck had not been thoroughly examined

A granite and quartz supplier and its boss have been sentenced after a worker was crushed to death in what was described as "an entirely preventable accident".

Robert Czachracz was killed when he became trapped by two 250kg (551lb) granite slabs while working for Graniteland Limited on 30 November 2020.

The 46-year-old from Poland had been unpacking and moving the slabs onto storage racks, using an overhead crane, at the company’s Lyde Green site in Halesowen when they fell.

The firm has been fined £18,000 while its director Shu Lai Li has been handed a 12-month community order and must complete 120 hours of unpaid work.

Staff were not given training on how to load and unload stock, the investigation uncovered

On the day of the incident, Mr Czachracz became crushed against a forklift truck while he was operating the crane’s handheld pendant control.

Bystanders from a nearby business and emergency services rushed to his aid but he was confirmed dead at the scene.

An investigation was launched by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which found the company and its director failed to implement staff training or develop safe systems of work for the unloading, loading and handling of concrete slabs.

No evidence that workers had been trained in the safe operation of machinery was found.

Inspectors found the overhead crane and forklift truck had also not been thoroughly examined, as required by law.

The webbing slings, which could have been used during the unpacking process, were found to be damaged, the HSE said.

HSE guidance states employers must manage and control the risks to avoid any injury or damage during lifting operations.

Graniteland Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 at Dudley Magistrates’ Court on 6 March.

The company was ordered to pay £22,376 in total

As well as the fine, the firm was ordered to pay £4,196.03 in costs and a victim surcharge of £180.

Li, of Lyde Green, Halesowen, also pleaded guilty to breaching Section 37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

At the same court he was ordered to pay £4,043.42 in costs as well as a victim surcharge of £95.

“This was an entirely preventable accident. The risks of lifting and moving granite slabs were obvious, yet could have been controlled by relatively simple and inexpensive measures," said HSE inspector Mahesh Mahey.

They added: "The company and director failed to adequately control lifting operations which resulted in an employee needlessly and tragically losing his life.”