Life 'will never be the same' says family of man killed while working for Leicestershire company

The mother of a man killed by a lorry while working for a Leicestershire company said their lives “will never be the same”. Paul Clarke had only recently joined the company when he was fatally crushed by a reversing vehicle.

Paul had been working for Samworth Brothers' Cornwall Bakery site where it makes Ginsters pasties when the incident unfolded on Thursday, December 2, 2021. The 40-year-old was crushed by a reversing vehicle and despite being airlifted to Derriford Hospital he died of his injuries.

Investigations by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have led to Samworth Brothers being fined more than £1 million, but Bernice, Paul's mum, said her son's death has had a major impact on the family.

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She said: “Paul was a family man and loved big family holidays, which will never be the same without him. I have not been on a family holiday since I feel so much guilt towards Paul, we don’t celebrate Christmas as the date is too close and it is just not the same.

“Paul and I had a very special relationship between a mother and a son. We were always talking and catching up. I would call him every weekend and see what he was doing. He would always come out with us on a bike ride or a walk. We all miss Paul very much every day, our lives will never be the same without Paul.”

HSE said Paul had only recently joined the bakery as an intake operator when he died. It found he had been moving a strip curtain in the loading bay, which had been temporarily installed “in place of a faulty roller door”.

HSE said Samworth Brothers, which has its headquarters in Melton, had “not assessed the risks associated” with the curtains and there was “no safe system of work to move them out of the way when the lorries reversed into the loading bay”. It added: “The site staff had not been provided with training or instructions to move the curtains and had devised their own methods, which included standing in the yard behind reversing vehicles.

“Mr Clarke was new to the role and was working his first lone shift. Management failings had not picked up the additional risks associated with this task.”

Samworth Brothers pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £1.28 million and ordered to pay £24,106 in costs at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, November 7.

HSE inspector Aimie Baker said: “Bernice’s words make clear the impact the passing of Paul has had and our thoughts remain with her and her family.

“Workplace transport incidents involving pedestrians are a major cause of fatal injuries in the workplace with 25 such recorded fatalities in 2023/24. Employers should plan their workplace to reduce contact between pedestrians and vehicles.

“Their risk assessment should consider workplace transport activities, including loading and unloading, and ensure that pedestrians are safe from the risks associated with vehicle movements where they interact. The management arrangements further require employers to monitor and review their measures as appropriate for the risks.”

This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyers Daniel Poole and Kate Harney, who were supported by HSE paralegal officer Imogen Isaac and HSE litigation officer Helen Vigus.