Man Killed By Waste Compactor

National cleaning company ISS Mediclean Ltd has been fined £175,000 and ordered to pay costs following an accident at work which claimed the life of a hospital porter in Bolton.

Peter Bonomy, 58, from Little Lever, was killed when the lid of an industrial waste compactor slammed down on him at the Royal Bolton Hospital in 2006.

In hearing at Manchester Crown Court it was revealed that the porter had been collecting waste cardboard from around the hospital and was later found with his head and arms under the lid of the machine.

An investigation revealed he may have leaned against a lever while leaning over the compactor, which in turn caused the lid to close. It was also revealed that the firm had allowed porters to load the machinery in an unsafe manner.

Jonathan Betts, a Partner and specialist in serious injury cases at Irwin Mitchell’s Manchester office, said: “This prosecution demonstrates just why it is so important for employers to ensure that their workers are following safety guidelines.

“The investigation by the HSE has suggested that this incident could and should have been avoided, and it is vital that lessons can be learned from the work accident which will hopefully prevent further problems in the future.

“Like so many of the cases we act in, this incident highlights the awful consequences that failings in health and safety can have. Health and safety must always be a priority and we hope that the same mistakes seen here will not occur again.”