A company director from Winsford has been jailed for 12 months after one of his employees was fatally injured at work. Paul Williamson of Thorn Warehousing was killed when a MEWP (Mobile Elevating Work Platform) that he was loading onto a lorry toppled on to him. He had received no training on the loading, no risk assessment had been undertaken and the lorry ramps hadn’t been secured properly. Thorn Warehousing was fined £166,000.
Director Kenneth Thelwall was jailed because he hadn’t provided the correct equipment or training.
“This case, as well as the new Sentencing Guidelines introduced earlier this year, should make all company directors sit up and take notice.” said Russell Barnard, SG World Product Manager. “It’s now much easier to prosecute and send company Directors to prison for Health & Safety breaches, when a small amount of time and investment can protect workers and management.”