The director of a worktop supplier in the West Midlands has been sentenced following the death of a worker who was crushed by two granite slabs each weighing 250kg in 2020.

Robert Czachracz, a 46-year-old from Poland, had been unpacking and moving the slabs onto storage racks, using an overhead crane, at Graniteland's Lyde Green site in Halesowen.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)  found Graniteland Limited and its director, Mr Shu Lai Li, "failed to implement staff training or develop safe systems of work for the unloading, loading and handling of granite slabs. There was no evidence that employees had received training in the safe operation of machinery, including the overhead crane. The overhead crane and forklift truck had also not been thoroughly examined, as required by law, and that webbing slings, that could have been used during the unpacking process, were damaged."

Graniteland Limited, of Lyde Green, Halesowen, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £18,000 and ordered to pay £4,196.03 in costs at Dudley Magistrates’ Court on 6 March 2024.

Mr Shu Lai Li, of Lyde Green, Halesowen, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. He was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and pay £4,043.42 in costs at Dudley Magistrates’ Court on 6 March 2024.

Mahesh Mahey, inspector at HSE said: “This was an entirely preventable accident. The risks of lifting and moving granite slabs were obvious, yet could have been controlled by relatively simple and inexpensive measures. The company and director failed to adequately control lifting operations which resulted in an employee needlessly and tragically losing his life.”

HSE guidance states employers must manage and control the risks to avoid any injury or damage during lifting operations. Information on Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) can be found on the HSE website.