A DAD-OF-THREE was tragically crushed to death by a machine at work – leaving behind a devastated wife who says she’s “still waiting for him to come home”.
Russell Hartley, 48, was replacing a Trisomat screen – which sorts different sizes of waste – when it tipped off a crane and onto him in the fatal tragedy.
The self-employed engineer, from Sheffield, was hired by Premier Engineering Projects Ltd to remove the machinery from a recycling facility in London.
Russell was leading four other engineers on February 24, 2020, when he was killed.
One other colleague from Russell’s team was also involved in the accident but escaped uninjured.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation has since found Russell’s death was “completely avoidable” and he would still be alive if the job was monitored correctly.
Russell’s heartbroken wife has since said she “can’t accept that he has gone”.
Debbie said: “Russell was everything to us. He was funny and one of the nicest guys you could ever meet.
“Nothing was ever too much. If it needed doing, he got it done. He was a fantastic father and husband.
“He worshipped his grandkids and all his family.
“I feel like sometimes I am just waiting for him to come home. I can’t accept that he has gone as I couldn’t say goodbye.
“Nothing prepared me for that moment. I thought he would be here and live on forever.
“All he ever wanted was to keep his family happy and looked after and I will try to keep that dream alive.”
Premier Engineering Projects Ltd and M&M Mobile Crane Hire Ltd, who provided the crane, failed to ensure the safety of workers replacing the screen, it was found.
HSE inspector Mark Slater said: “Had this work been planned, managed and monitored to a sufficient standard, this incident was entirely avoidable and Mr Hartley’s family would still have him in their lives.
“Risks arising from the lifting and moving of equipment of this size and nature are entirely foreseeable, and work of this nature should be afforded the utmost respect and care.”
