Nestle Fined £245k Following Electrocution

Nestle UK Ltd, one of the country's largest food and drink manufacturers, has been fined £220,000 following a fatal accident in 1999 when a contractor's employee was electrocuted undertaking work at Nestle's factory in Nestles Avenue, Hayes, Middlesex. The man's employer, Monotronic Ltd, was fined £25,000. Isleworth Crown Court also ordered Nestle to pay £30,000 in costs.

Anthony Allen, an electrician for Monotronic Ltd, was electrocuted while pulling out redundant cables from trunking in the coffee plant in the factory.

Monotronic Ltd was charged with breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, for failing to ensure the safety of its employee.

Nestle UK Ltd was charged with breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, for failing to ensure the safety of people not employed by them but affected by its work.

HSE Principal Inspector Samantha Peace said after the verdict: "His death could have been avoided if Nestle had ensured its contractors either followed or had in place a safe system of work. Every company, however large or small, must ensure that contractors have safe systems of work and follow them."
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