26/01/2010 - £90,000 fine over death of worker
A ground handling business has been fined £90,000 over the death of an employee crushed by an electric vehicle at Heathrow Airport.
Maintenance engineer Mohammed Taj, of west London, died in March 2008 when a "tug" used for pulling baggage and other supplies to planes, fell on his head.
The Old Bailey heard Mr Taj jacked the broken-down vehicle up from the rear to check its brakes but had no other support under the tug. But it toppled over and crushed him after he asked another worker to adjust the steering.
Aviance UK, of Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, admitted breaching Health and Safety law in not ensuring the safety of the 52-year-old worker. Judge Richard Hawkins said: "The company was shown on this occasion to have fallen short of its duty of care. This, however, was not in any sense a deliberate breach of the law. It is accepted by the prosecution that the company had a good safety record."
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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