Cambridge Magistrates Court last week fined EPR Ely Ltd £130,000 for its inadequate safety procedures and ordered it to pay a further £30,735 costs.
Gary Darnell from Ely, in Cambridgeshire was working as a driver at EPR Ely’s Elean power station in Sutton when the straw bale fell on to him on 16 September 2008. The 53-year-old received fatal injuries from mechanical asphyxiation. The plant burns straw to produce electricity.
The investigation and prosecution by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) found a number of failings regarding the movement of straw bales around the loading and storage area.
HSE inspector Gavin Bull said: "Incidents like this are entirely preventable - it is tragic that Gary Darnell lost his life. Companies need to make sure that they do not put drivers at risk from unsafe loading procedures. They should have systems of work in place keep drivers or other workers away from places that might be unsafe. If necessary they should use a banksman to assist the driver, or have other equipment such as effective CCTV to make loading operations safe."
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