Death blamed on deregulation
The safety campaign group, Families Against Corporate Killers (FACK), has blamed the death of 16-year-old apprentice Cameron Minshull “at least partly” on deregulation. Minshull was killed in January 2013 after being dragged into a lathe at Huntley Mount Engineering in Bury, Greater Manchester.
FACK pointed to the removal of requirements on training agencies and employers for proper health and safety checks before young people are placed in work, the cuts in enforcement and scrutiny due to government cuts and the dumbing down of guidance on young people’s health and safety at work.
Last month, the company was convicted of corporate manslaughter and fined £150,000.
Speaking after sentencing at Manchester Crown Court last month, FACK spokesperson Hilda Palmer said it was one of the worst incidents she had seen, and also blamed “the relentless attacks on health and safety” as “over the top” and “unnecessary”.