HSE to prosecute two companies over multi-fatality wall collapse

The HSE has announced it will prosecute two companies after five workers were killed and a sixth seriously injured when a wall collapsed at a waste recycling plant in the Nechells area of Birmingham in July 2016. The announcement came two days before four workers, the youngest just 16-years-old, were killed in an explosion at the Wessex Water treatment plant in Avonmouth, Bristol.

In July last year, the families of Ousmane Kaba Diaby, Saibo Sumbundu Sillah, Bangally Tunkara Dukuray, Almamo Kinteh Jammeh and Mahamadou Jagana, who were killed while working on zero-hour agency contracts at the recycling plant, and Tombong Camara Conteh, who sustained serious injuries, marked the fourth anniversary of their deaths with a protest at the lack of progress in bringing a prosecution.

Ensco 10101 Limited, previously known as Shredmet Ltd, and Hawkeswood Metal Recycling Limited, will face charges under sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Two individuals will also be prosecuted.