A MAN was crushed to death at a Müller Yogurt factory – with his heartbroken mum speaking out over his “entirely preventable” death.
Lewis McFarlin, 24, was killed while trying to repair a lift at the factory in Market Drayton, Shropshire on January 14 2020.
The engineer had climbed on top of the lift while trying to fix its jammed door.
But the lift suddenly switched from “inspection mode” back to normal and started moving.
Lewis was crushed in the gap between the lift and the shaft, with horrified colleagues unable to free him.
He was already dead by the time emergency services arrived at the scene.
The company Lewis worked for was fined £200,000 following a Health and Safety Executive probe into his death at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.
Investigators said Lift Monitoring Systems Ltd had failed to cover the gap which Lewis was trapped in – and that he would not have died if it had done so properly.
The firm pleaded guilty to failing to discharge the duty imposed on it by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Lewis’ mum Leah Salt said: “Hearing all the evidence has been extremely difficult.
“Hearing how Lewis’ death was easily and reasonably preventable, is heartbreaking.
“No one should go to work and not return.
“As a family, losing our lovely Lewis and his future, has had a massive impact on all of our lives.
“Nothing can bring my son home.
“However, if future lives and families can be protected as a result of this outcome, then Lewis’ death hasn’t been in vain.”
HSE inspector Andrew Johnson said: “This tragic and entirely preventable incident led to the loss of a much loved son.
“The risks associated with working on lifts and the necessary safety measures were well-known to the company.
“Sadly, in this case, the employer failed to meet its responsibilities to put in place simple and well-established reasonably practicable measures such as covering the void in which Lewis became trapped in.
“Had the company fulfilled its duties, this tragic incident simply would not have happened.”
