Paper mill death: Arjowiggins Ivybridge Ltd fined
A paper mill in Devon has been fined £200,000 after a worker was crushed to death.
Richard Zebedee, 45, from Ivybridge, died after being trapped in machinery at the Arjowiggins Stowford Mill in the town.
At Plymouth Crown Court, the company, Arjowiggins Ivybridge Ltd, admitted it had breached health and safety rules.
Judge Paul Darlow said the risk of injury and death in Mr Zebedee's case was "clearly foreseeable"
Mr Zebedee had begun working in his new role at the mill a fortnight before his death in April 2009.
The court heard that he was trying clear paper waste from a rotating cylinder using a blade attached to a broom handle.
The company said it was not previously aware such a makeshift device existed, and it has "an excellent safety record".
However, it admitted it had "failed" in some aspects of preventing danger to employees.
Defending, Prashant Popat said safety improvements had been made at the mill since the tragedy.
In a statement Mr Zebedee's family said "words cannot describe the gap that has been left by Richard's death".
The firm was ordered to pay £60,000 in fines and costs.