£1.4 million fine for cider maker

Herefordshire-based cider maker H Weston and Sons Ltd, manufacturer of Henry Westons Cider, was fined £1.4 million following the death of farm manager, Tommy Manns. He was killed in September 2020 when the end of a security barrier speared through his vehicle’s windshield, fatally crushing him. Following an HSE investigation, the company pleaded guilty to breaches of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

The HSE investigation found the company had installed the barrier a month earlier but had failed to undertake a suitable and sufficient risk assessment. It also failed to implement a safe system of work.

HSE advice on horizontal swing car park barriers can be found on its website.