Owners Of Plant Face Prosecution After Man’s Death

THE owners of a straw burning power plant at Sutton, where a worker died almost two years ago, are being prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive.

THE owners of a straw burning power plant at Sutton, where a worker died almost two years ago, are being prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive.

Father of three Gary Darnell, 53, was pronounced dead at the Energy Power Resources premises on the Elean Business Park on the afternoon of September 16, 2008.

He had been employed by Eastern Groundworks, which delivered straw to the EPR plant.

At the time of his death, it was reported that Mr Darnell had died after being crushed to death by a falling straw bale.

The Health and Safety Executive have accused EPR Ely Ltd of failing to discharge its duty as prescribed under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The two charges allege that:

n Between December 31 2007 and September 17 2008 at the Elean Power Station, Sutton, being an employer, the company failed to ensure so far as was reasonably practicable, that persons not in its employment, including Gary Darnell, were not exposed to risks to their safety during unloading operations

n Between December 31 2007 and September 17 2008, being an employer, the company failed to discharge its duty to ensure so far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work, including during crane operations, of all its employees.

The case against EPR Ltd Ely was listed before Ely magistrates on Thursday, The company has not entered a plea to either of the allegations.

The court committed the case to Cambridge Crown Court, with a plea and directions hearing on August 19.