Two contractors fined over Sheffield worker’s death

Two companies have been fined following the death of a father-of-three from Sheffield.

Premier Engineering Projects Ltd and M&M Mobile Crane Hire Ltd were fined £28,000 and £48,000, respectively, after Russell Hartley was crushed to death by a machine in 2020.

The 48-year-old engineer from Sheffield, was hired by Premier Engineering Projects Ltd to replace machinery at a materials recycling facility on Twelvetrees Crescent, Bow, London.   

He led a group of four engineers tasked with replacing a Trisomat screen on 24 February 2020, when the incident occurred.

The machine, known colloquially as a ‘flip-flop’, sorts different sizes of waste and was fixed within a metal structure at height in a bay at the site.

The crane, supplied by M&M Mobile Crane Hire Ltd, was first used to lower the flip-flop from its position at the site.

Mr Hartley then took over using a telehandler.

With the flip-flop resting on the telehandler’s forks, the machine began to go further down the bay.

The flip-flop became jammed in the bay when Mr Hartley attempted to reverse the telehandler.

The crane was then used again to lift the flip-flop off the telehandler, which unknown to the workers, had its forks slightly raised above ground level.

As the crane moved towards the telehandler, the flip-flop toppled forwards off the forks and crushed Mr Hartley. 

Another worker, who was standing on the flip-flop at the time, was thrown off the machine but escaped serious injury.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found the incident was entirely avoidable and Mr Hartley would still be alive had this work been planned, managed and monitored to a sufficient standard.

The HSE investigation found that the two contractors failed to ensure the safety of those involved in carrying out the replacement of the Trisomat screen.

Mr Hartley is survived by his wife Debbie, three children and three grandchildren.

His wife, Debbie, said: “Russell was everything to us.

“He was funny and one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. 

Nothing was ever too much, if it needed doing, he got it done.

He was a fantastic father and husband, and worshiped his grandkids and all his family.

“I can’t accept that he has gone as I couldn’t say goodbye, nothing prepared me for that moment. 

“I thought he would be here and live on forever.

“All he ever wanted was to keep his family happy and looked after and I will try to keep that dream alive.”

Both contractors pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. 

Premier Engineering Projects Ltd was ordered to pay £9,277.48 in costs at the Old Bailey on 1 August 2024, while M&M Mobile Crane Hire Ltd was ordered to pay £9,500.

HSE inspector Mark Slater said: “Had this work been planned, managed and monitored to a sufficient standard, this incident was entirely avoidable and Mr Hartley’s family would still have him in their lives. 

“Risks arising from the lifting and moving of equipment of this size and nature are entirely foreseeable, and work of this nature should be afforded the utmost respect and care.”

HSE reported 138 workers were killed in work-related accidents in 2023/24, with the highest proportion (37 per cent) in construction with 51 total deaths.