Maintenance worker killed while attempting to repair an industrial overhead door.
\nHSE found company failed to maintain doors \u2013 despite two previous incidents \u2013 and lack of regular inspection had led to deterioration
\nEmployee killed found not to have been given suitable training to carry out high-risk repairs
\nCompany fined \u00a3400,000 after pleading guilty to health and safety offences.<\/p>\n
An advertising printing company in Cardiff has been fined \u00a3400,000 after a maintenance worker suffered fatal injuries while attempting to repair an industrial overhead door.<\/p>\n
On 5 September 2022, 59-year-old Anthony (\u201cTony\u201d) Webb, an employee of GNW 2023 Realisations Limited, was carrying out maintenance work on an electrically operated sectional overhead door at the company\u2019s manufacturing facility in Cardiff.<\/p>\n
Mr Webb was attempting to re-tension the door springs using an industrial wrench when the tool slipped. The spring unwound in an uncontrolled manner, causing the wrench to be ejected and strike him. He suffered catastrophic injuries and died the following day.<\/p>\n
Tony and his wife Ewelina<\/p>\n
In a victim personal statement, Tony\u2019s wife<\/em><\/strong> Ewelina said:<\/strong> <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIt is still very raw, and I feel like I am on a roller coaster. I still find it difficult to talk about Tony without breaking down crying.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cTony and I were together 24\/7. Tony liked fixing and repairing things for friends and neighbours. He was a cheeky chap, everyone loved him.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI still meet up with Tony\u2019s friends who are my friends also. I find it difficult when we talk about things and Tony isn\u2019t there to experience it. <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cEvery day when I wake up it is like a cloud hanging over me. Some days I just cry without knowing I am going to.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the company had failed to adequately maintain the electrically operated sectional overhead doors at the site despite two previous incidents involving failing doors that had injured employees.<\/p>\n The investigation found the company had not implemented a programme of routine inspection or preventative maintenance, allowing the doors to deteriorate into a poor condition.<\/p>\n HSE also found that Mr Webb had repeatedly been permitted to carry out repairs to the doors despite not being suitably trained to undertake the work. The company had failed to carry out a suitable risk assessment, establish a safe system of work, or provide appropriate tools and equipment.<\/p>\n HSE guidance states that powered sectional overhead doors are classed as work equipment and must comply with the requirements of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER). Equipment must be suitable for use, maintained in a safe condition and inspected by a competent person to ensure it remains safe.<\/p>\n Further guidance can be found here: Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) \u2013 HSE.<\/a><\/p>\n GNW 2023 Realisations Limited,<\/strong> of Avenue Industrial Estate, Croescadarn Close, Cardiff, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Regulation 5(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.<\/p>\n The company was fined \u00a3400,000 and ordered to pay \u00a317,854 in costs at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates\u2019 Court on 17 June 2026.<\/p>\n HSE Inspector <\/strong>Georgina Bennett<\/strong> said:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThis incident was entirely avoidable. The maintenance of industrial doors is a high-risk activity involving stored energy within door springs;\u00a0 it requires \u00a0specialist equipment and should only be carried out by people who are properly trained.<\/p>\n \u201cThis company failed to recognise those risks, and despite two previous incidents involving overhead doors, had not carried out regular maintenance to detect and deal with the deterioration in their condition.<\/p>\n \u201cWere it not for these failures,Tony Webb\u2019s death could have been prevented. Our thoughts remain with his loved ones as they mourn his loss.<\/p>\n This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Alan Hughes.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Further information:<\/strong><\/p>\n The Health and Safety Executive<\/a> (HSE) is Britain\u2019s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives. Maintenance worker killed while attempting to repair an industrial overhead door. HSE found company failed to maintain doors \u2013 despite two previous incidents \u2013 and lack of regular inspection had led to deterioration Employee killed found not to have been given suitable training to carry out high-risk repairs Company fined \u00a3400,000 after pleading guilty to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2322"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2322"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2322\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2322"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2322"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2322"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nMore information about the legislation<\/a> referred to in this case is available.
\nFurther details on the latest HSE news releases<\/a> is available.
\nRelevant guidance can be found here: Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) \u2013 HSE<\/a>
\nHSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so.\u00a0 The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"