Sentence due on worker death firm

An Oswestry-based food storage company was due to be sentenced for health and safety offences today after an employee died following a chemical leak. Cold Move is based in the Maesbury Road Industrial Estate.

The firm has admitted breaching health and safety regulations following the death of an engineer.

Alan Golden, 54, of Holbache Road, Oswestry, died after inhaling toxic ammonia fumes at the firm's premises at Golborne, near Warrington.

A prosecution was brought by Wigan Council's environmental health officers following the incident at the unit in September 2005.

The company admitted failing to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of its employees, contrary to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The company was due to be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court today.

The case was passed to the crown court after a hearing at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates Court in August.

Magistrates in August heard Mr Golden died after 2.5 tonnes of toxic ammonia were released into the air.

Mr Simon Ward, prosecuting, told the magistrates that Mr Golden died while draining oil from the liquid ammonia system, and Cold Move admitted equipment – including emergency equipment – had been defective.

The sentencing comes days after another Oswestry firm, Pentons Haulage and Cold Storage, was fined £250,000 for breaching health and safety rules.