Partwell Special Steels Limited of Blackburn, a Blackburn-based engineering firm, was fined PS80,000 for the death in a workplace incident of Connor Borthwick (age 22).
The incident happened on 25 November 2021, at the site of the company on Bruce Street, when Connor from Wigan was crushed to death while moving a large machine for cutting.
According to the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) report, Connor and a co-worker were using skates underneath the machine to move it across the floor of the workshop. The machine became unbalanced as it was lowered on one of the skates with a jack. It then fell backwards, trapping Connor underneath. He suffered catastrophic injuries, and died later.
Emily described Connor as “an amazing, caring, funny and loving little brother”.
Severe Safety Defects
HSE concluded from its investigation that Partwell Special Steels Limited failed to carry out a risk analysis for the task and left employees without a system of safe work. The company did not offer adequate training to employees or ensure they had the required competence for the task.
The equipment used to move this machine was also deemed inappropriate. If the equipment had been properly assessed, it would have shown that the skates used were not suitable for moving such heavy machines.
HSE Inspector Anthony Banks said, “This company failed to do its job and a young man who was loved died as a result.” The people in charge of the work, such as those who move heavy machinery around a construction site, must assess the risks and plan the safest way to do it.
This tragic incident could have been easily avoided with the correct controls in place. “My thoughts are with Connor’s parents.”
Legal Consequences
Partwell Special Steels Limited of Stanley Street in Blackburn pleaded guilty for violating Regulation 2(1). Act 1974. The company was fined PS80,000 at a Preston Magistrates Court hearing on 16th December 2024 and ordered to pay PS6,713 as costs.
Emily spoke on behalf of her family and said that everyone loved Connor. More than 700 people attended his funeral, paying their respects to Connor and sharing their stories of how Connor touched their lives. He was 22. Life hadn’t even begun. It was over.
“Some simple actions should have been taken but weren’t. If they had, Connor would still be here today.” It’s difficult to explain what we have gone through and are still going through to others. “We don’t wish another family to experience what we did.”
