Peterborough printing firm faces fine over employee death

A printing firm based in Peterborough in Cambridgeshire could face a substantial fine over the death of an employee in October 2008.

Employee Ian Ebbs, 43, was working on a night shift at the St Ives Web factory, located in the Fengate industrial area of the city, when the incident occurred. He was repairing a printing press which had broken down when a part of it – a paddle wheel – fell and crushed him. Mr Ebbs died as a result of the incident.

The company which owns St Ives Web, Wyndeham Peterbough, was brought before Peterborough Magistrates Court recently to answer charges over the incident. The firm is accused of failing in its health and safety responsibilities by not conducting proper risk assessments on maintenance operations, as well as breaching its duty to protect employees from injury.

The case is too serious to be heard at the Magistrates Court, so it will instead be heard at the Crown Court as soon as a date can be set. If found guilty of the charges levelled against it over Mr Ebb’s death, Wyndeham Peterborough may have to rely on its employers’ liability insurance to pay what will no doubt be substantial fines and legal fees.

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