A CRANE hire company which 'neglected its responsibilities' has been ordered to pay £900,000 after it was found guilty of corporate manslaughter.

Baldwins Crane Hire Limited was fined £700,000 and ordered to pay £200,000 costs following the death of Lindsay Easton, 49, on a quarry access road in Edenfield, Lancashire.

The Slough-based company was sentenced at a hearing at Preston Crown Court on Tuesday, having been found guilty of corporate manslaughter, failing to ensure the safety of its employees and failing to ensure the safety of other persons following a trial in November.

Mr Easton, from West Yorkshire, was driving a 130-tonne mobile crane on a road from Scout Moor quarry in Edenfield, when the brake system failed.

The vehicle, travelling on a steep access road, lost control and crashed into an earth bank. The front of the vehicle was crushed, with Mr Easton dying from multiple injuries.

An investigation was launched by Lancashire Police, alongside the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which found that several of the wheel brakes were inoperable, worn or contaminated.

The engine retarding - known as braking - systems were also found to be non-functional, disabled or damaged providing only limited braking force.

Several other cranes across the Baldwins fleet were also found to have significant issues which required immediate work, as well as failings within the company structure.

Detective sergeant John McNamara, of Lancashire Police, said: “We welcome today’s sentencing and hope it serves as a reminder to all companies to properly manage and maintain equipment, vehicles and to keep the safety of their employees at the forefront of their responsibilities.

“The brakes on the crane driven by Mr Easton that day were in a shockingly bad state and this was a disaster waiting to happen. Had this happened on a road with more vehicles this incident could have been even more serious than it already was.

“The safety of employees is of utmost importance in the workplace and Baldwins Crane Hire clearly neglected its responsibilities and sadly Mr Easton paid the price.

“Mr Easton’s death was wholly avoidable. Tragically the gross failings of the company management have led to the death of an experienced crane driver who was simply doing his job, causing enduring heartache for his family. I hope the sentence brings some closure for his family during what has been a traumatic and difficult time."

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Kevin Jones added: “I also wish to pay tribute to the heroic actions of Mr Easton which helped prevent an even greater potential tragedy by his attempt to stop the crane on the run-off lane rather than continuing down the access road and onto the public highway.”