Jaguar Land Rover has been fined for safety breaches discovered during an investigation into a death of a worker at its Merseyside plant. 

Liverpool Crown Court heard Graham Begley (49), from Halewood, was found trapped between two 24-tonne pieces of car making machinery called ‘dies’ on September 26, 2011 at the firm’s factory in Halewood. 

The court was told it is thought the deceased was moving the machinery with a crane when its chain/hook snagged on the die, causing it to move towards him and crushing him. 

As part of its investigation into the incident, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found Jaguar Land Rover had failed in its duty to undertake a suitable risk assessment of the risks to its employees were exposed to in relation to the pre-lift process prior to the lifting of dies. 

Jaguar was cleared of failing to ensure the safety of an employee at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday.

Jaguar Land Rover Ltd of Abbey Road, Whitley, Coventry, was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) over breaches of Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

After entering a guilty plea, Jaguar Land Rover was fined £30,000 and agreed to make a contribution towards HSE costs of £20,000. 

After the hearing, HSE head of operations for the north west, Mark Dawson, said: “A suitable risk assessment is an essential step in ensuring that the risks arising from work activities are properly controlled.

“This is particularly important where the work is hazardous and has the potential to result in serious harm.

“Employers are therefore reminded of their legal responsibility to identify the hazards and decide on the precautions that may be necessary.”