Dragon Alfa Cement Limited has been fined £1 million after an employee was killed when he was crushed by machinery in a cement bagging plant.
Martin Bennett, 35, was working at the Dragon Alfa Cement facility in Sharpness, Gloucestershire, on 4 August 2021 when he was found crushed to death by a 1.6 tonne concrete weight, which was used to raise pallets full of 25kg bags of cement.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that a large section of the equipment's perimeter fencing had routinely been removed over a prolonged period. This allowed full access into the dangerous parts of the machinery, including moving parts that presented a risk of serious injury or death.
HSE found that Dragon Alfa Cement failed to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its employees, including Martin Bennett, by failing to prevent access to dangerous parts of the machinery. HSE guidance states that employers must take effective measures to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery. Wherever possible this should be through fixed guards.
Dragon Alfa Cement pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £1 million and ordered to pay £9,621 in costs at Bristol Magistrates' Court on 21 July 2026.
HSE inspector Oliver Guiver said: "Martin Bennett lost his life in an incident that should never have happened.
"The company repeatedly failed to ensure dangerous parts of this machinery were properly guarded, despite suitable safeguards being available. Had those measures been in place, Martin would not have died.
"Our thoughts remain with Martin's family. He went to work expecting to return home at the end of the day, but because of the devastating consequences of these failings, he never did."
