Corby paper firm Merley fined £70K over worker's death
A Northamptonshire paper company has been fined £70,000 for safety failings after heavy boxes landed on a worker, causing fatal injuries.
Desanka Todorovic, 44, of Corby, was standing next to racking when it collapsed at Merley Paper Converters' warehouse in the town in March 2009.
She died soon afterwards. Her husband was working nearby.
The company admitted a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was ordered to pay costs of £30,974.
It manufactures paper rolls used in tills, chip and pin terminals and cash machines.
Speaking after the case, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said its investigation of Merley revealed it had failed to properly control risks to employees.
The racking that collapsed had been in a poor condition with important locking pins missing.
Mrs Todorovic had been standing next to the racking as a forklift truck was being used to lift down pallets of boxes.
Several boxes of till rolls fell on top of her, partially burying her underneath.
HSE inspector Roger Amery said: "This has been an extremely tragic case which has had a huge impact on Mrs Todorovic's family.
"I felt huge sympathy for her husband who was also working in the factory and was nearby at the time.
"Had Merley Paper Converters properly erected and then properly maintained its racking, this incident would never have happened."