A company director has been found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter after an employee bled to death in a baling machine accident at a recycling plant. Norman Butler had worked at Stephen Jones' Recycle Cymru site for less than a month before his death on November 30, 2017.
Mold Crown Court heard how Mr Butler had been working alone in the plant on the Tir Llwyd Industrial Estate in Kinmel Bay, Conwy, when he scaled a conveyor belt to dislodge a blockage in one of the machines. The 60-year-old, who was shown on CCTV footage walking up the conveyor belt, then either slipped or tripped and became trapped inside the machine.
The dad of three was found hours later by a colleague having died from blood loss after severing his ankle. Prosecutor Craig Hassall QC had told the trial how "he would have been trapped with no-one to rescue him", NorthWalesLive reports.
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Jones, of Llanerch Road West in Rhos-on-Sea, stood trial charged with manslaughter in that as managing director he owed Mr Butler a duty of care as an employee. He denied throughout that he was responsible for the gross negligence that led to Mr Butler's death. But the jury returned to court on Friday after eight hours 40 minutes of deliberations and unanimously found him guilty of manslaughter.
The prosecution argued throughout the case how the death was wholly preventable had more safety measures been in place. During their case it was said that Jones would not only disregard measures that were in place to protect his staff,but would "positively encourage" breaking the procedures by ignoring it when they were broken.
Mr Hassall listed a catalogue of safety failings by Jones and his firm. He said Jones didn't even have the safety manual for the baling machine nor did he carry out adequate training or supervision. The factory floor was "chaotic and cluttered" and safety was "shockingly bad", Mr Hassall had told the trial. Jones was granted unconditional bail until he is sentenced on July 15.
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