Tata Steel Fined £1.5m After Contractor Death at Port Talbot Plant

Tata Steel has been fined £1.5 million following the death of Justin Day, a 44-year-old contractor who was fatally crushed by machinery at the Port Talbot steelworks in September 2019. Day was called back to a worksite due to an oil leak but was not informed that the machinery had been reactivated, leading to his fatal injury when he triggered sensors that activated a moving steel beam. The company pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the health and safety of its employees and contractors, with the court highlighting inadequate isolation and guarding of dangerous machinery. Judge Geraint Walters expressed condolences to Day's family, acknowledging that no fine could restore their loss, while the Health and Safety Executive emphasized Tata Steel's failure to meet appropriate safety standards. Victim impact statements revealed profound grief and ongoing mental health struggles faced by Day’s wife and family. Tata Steel contested some claims about the communication around the incident, but the court found the company’s safety management insufficient, resulting in the significant fine and prosecution costs.