A Blackburn-based engineering company, Partwell Special Steels Limited, has been fined £80,000 following the death of a 22-year-old employee, Connor Borthwick, in a workplace accident.

The incident occurred on 25 November 2021 at the company’s site on Bruce Street when Connor, from Wigan, was fatally crushed while moving a large cutting press machine.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation revealed that Connor and a colleague were moving the heavy machine across the workshop floor using skates placed underneath it. As the machine was being lowered onto one of the skates using a jack, it became unbalanced and fell backward, trapping Connor beneath it. He sustained catastrophic crush injuries and later died.

Connor was described by his sister Emily as an “amazing, caring, loving and funny little brother”.

Serious Safety Lapses

The HSE investigation concluded that Partwell Special Steels Limited had failed to conduct a risk assessment for the task, leaving employees without a safe system of work. The company also did not provide adequate training or ensure that employees possessed the necessary competence to undertake the task.

Furthermore, the equipment used to move the machine was deemed unsuitable. A proper assessment of the equipment would have identified that the skates employed were inappropriate for moving such a heavy machine.

HSE Inspector Anthony Banks commented, “This company’s failures resulted in the death of a much loved young man. Those in control of work activities, including the movement of heavy machinery from one part of a site to another, need to assess the risks of that work, and plan a safe way to undertake it.

“This tragic incident could have easily been avoided with the right controls in place. My thoughts remain with Connor’s family.”

Legal Consequences

Partwell Special Steels Limited, based on Stanley Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. At a hearing on 16 December 2024 at Preston Magistrates Court, the company was fined £80,000 and ordered to pay £6,713 in costs.

“Everyone loved Connor,” Emily said, speaking on behalf of the family. “He was a good soul, and this was evident from the more than 700 people who came to his funeral to pay their respects and share their personal accounts of how Connor had touched their lives. He was 22, life hadn’t begun for him, and it was over.

“Some simple steps should have been taken and weren’t, if they were Connor would be with us today. It’s hard to explain to people what we have been through, are going through. We don’t want another family to go through what we have.”