Fatal injuries blamed on health and safety breaches on Space 4 site
Space 4, a subsidiary of Persimmon Homes, was last week fined a total of 拢125,000 following the death of an employee in December 2001.
Philip Macken was injecting insulation foam to an internal wall panel for use in a new build home on a Space 4 site in the West Midlands. He entered the foam injection enclosure to fix a problem with the automated machine, but the machine started automatically while he was inside. Macken was trapped against the machine and received fatal crush injuries.
Space 4 pleaded guilty at Birmingham Crown Court to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act, and was fined 拢65,000 and ordered to pay 拢60,000 costs.
HSE investigating inspector Tony Mitchell said: "Companies need to ensure that all safety devices are fully operational. In this case properly fitted interlocks would have prevented access to the enclosure, and saved Mr Macken's life."
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