Peter Barney death: Lincolnshire Field Products fined
A farming business has been fined £165,000 after the lack of a "simple procedure" led to a farm manager being crushed to death by a forklift truck.
Peter Barney's death could have been prevented if the business had taken proper action after a previous warning, the Health and Safety Executive said.
Lincolnshire Field Products, based in Spalding, admitted two charges of breaching health and safety laws.
A statement from the business said it "deeply regretted" Mr Barney's death.
The firm, which has also been ordered to pay £39,500 in legal costs, said it had improved safety practices since Mr Barney's death.
'Friend and colleague'
The statement said the 58-year-old, of Broadgate, Weston, "continues to be sorely missed and our sympathies remain with his family".
"Mr Barney had worked for Lincolnshire Field Products for over 30 years and was a friend, as well as a colleague."
After the hearing, HSE Inspector Neil Ward said the company "should have managed the yard so that people and vehicles were not sharing the same space".
"Sadly, Mr Barney lost his life because this simple procedure wasn't in place."
Mr Barney, who worked for the firm for 38 years, was walking from his car to a potato grading shed when he was hit by the forklift truck.
He died at the scene at Middle Farm, in Moulton Seas End, on 31 October 2010.
Safety consultants had carried out a risk assessment in 2003, which highlighted the need for pedestrians and vehicles to be segregated.
However, the firm did not fully implement these findings.