Shropshire boss cleared of safety offences
The owner of a south Shropshire haulage company has been cleared of breaching health and safety regulations after a former employee lost a thumb during a workplace accident.
Christopher Hazel was found not guilty at Shrewsbury Crown Court of failing to comply with work equipment regulations and not adhering to health and safety at work regulations by a jury yesterday.
It comes after John Bagley lost his thumb when his overalls got caught up in a shot blasting machine while working at Chris Hazel Haulage in Ludlow.
Mr Bagley had claimed that the chain's guard had not been in place on the day of his accident and had not been for some time.
The case had been brought against Mr Hazel by the Health and Safety Executive.
But Mr Hazel's wife and business partner Clair had told the court that neither she nor her husband would ever put any of their employees at risk.
The case was dismissed at court yesterday following a three-day trial.
