Gill Aggregates fined £24,000 after worker's fatal entrapment

Gill Aggregates Limited has been fined £24,000 after a worker died in a conveyor entrapment incident at its site on Halyard Street in Dagenham. Manjit Kumar, 34, suffered fatal crush injuries on June 24, 2020, after being drawn into machinery.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company had identified the risk of entrapment two months before the incident but failed to implement adequate guarding. The worker was using a bag-flattening conveyor system and was pulled into the compression conveyor through an opening in the guarding.

Court proceedings

At Snaresbrook Crown Court, Gill Aggregates Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. The company was ordered to pay the £24,000 fine and £43,000 in costs.

HSE inspector Adepeju Sogadgi stated that the risks associated with dangerous moving machinery are well known and employers must ensure effective measures are in place to prevent workers from accessing dangerous parts. The HSE found that the fixed guard on the machinery had an opening of approximately 600mm by 335mm, which allowed access to the moving parts. Further guarding has since been installed.