Industry news
Strimmer death results in fine
Posted Fri, 23 Mar 2012
A forestry management company has been fined after a piece of metal flew off a petrol strimmer and killed an employee working nearby.
Tony Robinson, 37, from Ulverston, was a contractor hired by ThreeShires Ltd to clear undergrowth at a construction site for the development of the new Waterfront business park in Burrow-in-Furness.
The father-of-four was cutting back vegetation while a nearby colleague used a strimmer on the bank. Mr Robinson died after a link from the petrol strimmer's chain became detached, striking him on the back of the neck. The metal piece, which had been rotating at close to 300 miles per hour, caused fatal injuries to Mr Robinson at Ramsden Dock in Barrow on 8 February 2010.
ThreeShires Ltd, a countryside and forestry management firm, was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive after an investigation into Mr Robinson's death found the work had not been planned or carried out with due regard to safety.
ThreeShires Ltd, of Kings Garden in Grantham, Lincolnshire pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by failing to ensure the safety of workers. The firm was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay £10,000 in costs.
Copyright Press Association 2012