Vehicle repair company fined after mechanic killed

A vehicle recovery and repair company has been sentenced after a new mechanic suffered fatal crush injuries during maintenance work.

Birmingham Magistrates’ Court heard that on November 24, 2014, Albert Road Recovery and Repair employee John Glenn was fatally injured when a rigid vehicle fell suddenly from an inadequate axle support prop at Siskin Parkway East, Middlemarch Business Park, Coventry.

The incident happened hours after he had started his new job.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that a cable reel drum jack was used to support the vehicle, which was not an appropriate piece of equipment for the task being undertaken.

Now dissolved, Albert Road Recovery and Repair of Warley Hill Business Park, Brentwood, Essex, was found guilty of breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £20,000, the highest amount available to this court.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector John Glynn said: “This incident led to the tragic death of John Glenn and occurred within hours of him starting his new job. It was completely avoidable.

“Not only did the company fail to adequately induct the new starter into their business, it failed to adequately instruct and supervise him on his first day and provided him with completely unsuitable tools and equipment.

“Had the company considered the risks properly, they would have had safe systems of work and approved vehicle repair equipment in place.”

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety.