by Keith Hunt

A Company has been fined £150,000 over the death of a Medway worker who was crushed by a heavy metal plate.

Nigel Harrison, 52, was working at the Northfleet site of North Kent.

Shotblasting in October 2006 when he was trapped underneath the one-ton plate.

The married father of four, of View Road, Cliffe Woods, died at Darent Valley Hospital.

An inquest jury later returned a verdict of accidental death.

Gerard Forlin, defending, said nobody knew exactly what happened during the 20-30 minutes Mr Harrison was alone.

Another employee, John Weeks, heard a loud bang and found the victim underneath the plate.

Mr Forlin said the company had not been wound up but leased the site out at a loss.

Judge Charles Macdonald QC said it was unlikely Mr Harrison would have tried to move the plate himself.

“The possibility he may have contributed to his own death appears to me not to be material to the outcome of this case today,” he said.

The company had no previous convictions and health and safety was not simply ignored.

There had been no previous accidents or injuries.

The judge said there was not a deliberate breach in order to increase profits. Although the company had been run down, it had assets. Its trading position was poor.

“I regard this as a bad case,” he said. “But for the lack of means of the company I would consider a higher fine.”

Judge Macdonald said the sentence was to bring home to managers and shareholders their company’s responsibility to provide a safe working environment.

The company and director Wayne Taylor, of Pescot Avenue, Longfield, admitted a breach of the Health and Safety Act.

The company was allowed four years to pay the fine and costs.