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HSE issues safety warning following worker death

Published 12/10/2007

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned companies about the risks of working at height after an incident in which a man died.

In January 2003, Andrew Taylor, who worked for the waste conversion firm RTAL, was fatally injured after falling eight metres at the firm's factory premises.

The 29-year-old fell from the edge of a fixed platform, at which a protective guard rail had been removed, while he was attempting to carry out work setting up a kiln.

RTAL was fined £25,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,000 at Basildon Crown Court, while managing director Terry Green was also ordered to pay £25,000 after admitting to breaching health and safety regulations.

HSE inspector Sandy Carmichael stated: "This was a serious breach of obligation to both its own staff and visiting workers, indicative of failure by the company to appreciate the risks from such complex work."

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