Warrender aircraft services was fined £25 000 after pleading guilty to three breaches of health and safety regulations following a fatality in an industiral dryer last year.
Warrender Aircraft Services of Stevenage, Hertfordshire, is owned by the Sketchley cleaning business. It processes laundry for a number of airlines.
Mr Ray Washbrook, who had only recently joined the company, had been working overtime. He climbed into the dryer as he attempted to remove a piece of linen. This action allowed the rear door to close and the machine to begin a new cycle, leaving him trapped inside (Laundry and Cleaning News February 1997, p4).
The court was told how Mr Washbrook was thrown around the machine as the temperature reached 100°C. He died from multiple head injuries, although his body was only found some seven hours later.
Warrender had recently set up the new commercial laundry, the court was told. Broadbent Laundry Systems supplied and installed the new automatic batch washer at the factory. The site incorporated a 9-metre long tunnel washer, spin dryer and tumble dryers connected by a series of conveyors, automatically controlled by a computer.
Both Warrender and Broadbent were prosecuted at Stevenage Magistrates court. Both companies pleaded guilty.
At the hearing, the Magistrates fined Broadbent £4000 for an offence under the supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992. However, Magistrates considered that the three charges against Warrender under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations and the Provision and Use of Equipment at Work Regulations deserved referral to a higher court for sentencing, where there is no limit to the potential fine which may be imposed.
In passing sentence, judge Daniel Rodwell QC, explained that the level of fine was based on two considerations: on the moral issue, which related to the degree of culpability that led to loss of life and the deterrant aspect. He said he wanted to impose a level of fine which demonstrated clearly that it is not commercially viable for any company to operate machinery when it is not complying with the law.
