cqms-header-logocqms-header-logocqms-header-logocqms-header-logo
  • Home
  • About us
    • Who is CQMS
    • Testimonials
    • Accreditation, Certification & Memberships
    • News & Legislation
      • Recent Prosecutions
      • News Articles
      • Legislation
      • Corporate Manslaughter
    • Privacy Notice
    • FAQs
  • Consultancy
  • Safety-Scheme
  • Online Training
  • Get in Touch
  • Home
  • About us
    • Who is CQMS
    • Testimonials
    • Accreditation, Certification & Memberships
    • News & Legislation
    • Privacy Notice
    • FAQs
  • Consultancy
  • Safety-Scheme
  • Online Training
  • Get in Touch
✕

Company fined and two directors get suspended prison sentence after 27 year old killed by telehandler

Company fined and two directors get suspended prison sentence after 27 year old killed by telehandler

A landscaping company and its two directors were sentenced after Russell Meech, a 27 year old landscape gardener was killed when he fell under the wheels of a telehandler.

St Albans Crown Court heard how on 18 June 2013 Russell Meech was working for Wooburn Landscapes Limited of High Wycombe at a construction site at “High Trees”, Leggetts Park, Potters Bar. The company was contracted to unload and plant trees on the site. This included moving trees from an arctic trailer one hundred yards to the required area of the site.

The trees were moved across the site using a telehandler and strap. This method resulted in the trees being unstable and Mr Meech walked in front of the telehandler holding the tree at the stem to stabilise it.

It was during this operation that Russell Meech tripped and fell under the wheel of the telehandler suffering fatal injuries. He died at the scene.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident, found that the company was not following a safe system of work. The operation to move the trees had not been planned in sufficient detail to ensure that it could be carried out safely.

Wooburn Landscapes Limited was fined a total of £50,000 with full costs of £9,680 after pleading guilty to an offence under Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Andrew Schofield pled guilty to an offence under section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was given a four and a half months prison sentence, suspended for eighteen months and 250 hours of unpaid community service.

Mark Schofield of Thornaby Place, Wooburn Green, Buckinghamshire pled guilty to an offence under section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was given a four and a half months prison sentence, suspended for eighteen months and 250 hours of unpaid community service.

 

Share

Related posts

30th June 2023

School fined £35,000 after child severely burned at carol concert


Read more
27th June 2023

Runcorn business park operator fined £13,000 after worker injured in fall


Read more
26th June 2023

Serco fined £240,000 after man killed in crash with litter picking vans


Read more

CONTACT US

For more information on how we can help please fill out the form  below and a member of our team will contact you shortly

    I am interested in: (please select)

    Call meEmail me

    NEWS ARTICLES

    • School fined £35,000 after child severely burned at carol concert
      30th June 2023
    • Runcorn business park operator fined £13,000 after worker injured in fall
      27th June 2023
    • Serco fined £240,000 after man killed in crash with litter picking vans
      26th June 2023
    • Company fined after broken arm forces dad out of work
      23rd June 2023
    • Private health care provider fined for exposing workers to chlorine gas
      21st June 2023
    • Transport company fined after worker fractures skull
      20th June 2023

    Get in touch

    CQMS Limited
    The Clock, 12-13 Westgate, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG31 6LT
    Tel: 01476 566665
    Email: enquiries@cqms-ltd.com

    Connect with us on social media

    CQMS Safety-Scheme is a UKAS-accredited Type C Inspection Body under ISO 17020:2012 for the provision of health and safety assessment services’
    CQMS Safety-Scheme - UKAS-accredited Type C Inspection Body under ISO 17020:2012

    Search our site

    ✕

    External Links

    H&S Executive Website
    Incident Contact Centre
    The British Safety Council
    RoSPA

    © 2017 - 2023 CQMS Limited | All rights reserved | Site built and hosted by GIGER MEDIA | Content managed by CQMS