found the company Pan Glo Ltd – previously known as Cleanbake Ltd – had failed to carry out risk assessments or develop written systems of work for any maintenance to the tank line.
There was no instruction about what should or shouldn’t be done when access to the restricted rear area was necessary, including whether it was acceptable to walk across the tops and lids of the tanks.This resulted in employees routinely accessing the area in this way, placing themselves at significant risk and which subsequently led to this death.
At Preston Magistrates’ Court on Thursday , Pan Glo Ltd of Seddon Place, Skelmersdale, Lancashire pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.Speaking after the hearing, HSE principal inspector Helen Jones said: “This was a tragic incident, and our thoughts remain with the family involved.“The death of this man could easily have been prevented had the company acted to identify and manage the risks involved, and to put a safe system of work in place.