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PHW · Machinery · 2026-07-21

Dragon Alfa Cement Limited fined £1,000,000 after a worker was crushed to death by a falling concrete weight

Sharpness, Gloucestershire · Bristol Magistrates' Court

What happened

An employee was crushed to death by a 1.6-tonne concrete weight used to raise pallets of cement bags. A large section of the machinery's perimeter fencing had been routinely removed, giving unrestricted access to dangerous moving parts.

Injuries: Death

The breach

Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

The sentence

  • Fine: £1,000,000
  • Costs: £9,621
HSE inspector

“The company repeatedly failed to ensure dangerous parts of this machinery were properly guarded, despite suitable safeguards being available.”

What would have prevented it

Removing machine guarding for convenience, even routinely, removes the protection it exists to provide and must never become normal practice.

How PHW helps

The machines, packs and quizzes that fit this kind of site.

Sector

Training and evidence for manufacturing sites

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Safety pack

Concrete, cement and mortar

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Quiz

Could a visitor on your shop floor check an operator's training record in under a minute?

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Source: HSE press release, Cement company fined £1,000,000 after father crushed by 1.6-tonne concrete weight