BAE fined over worker's blast deathDefence company BAE has been fined £80,000 over the death of a worker who was killed in an explosion at its Lancashire site.
Lynda Wilkins, 47, died while working with lead styphnate, a sensitive primary explosive, at the explosives plant on Central Avenue in Chorley in March 2005, Liverpool Crown Court heard.
The Health and Safety Executive, which was unable to establish the exact cause of the explosion, prosecuted BAE Systems Land Systems (Munitions and Ordnance) Ltd.
BAE Systems, of Farnborough Aerospace Centre in Hampshire admitted breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by failing to ensure the safety of its employees. In addition to the fine, the company was ordered to pay £118,000 towards the cost of the prosecution.
HSE inspector Colin Hutchinson said: "Explosives companies must learn from this incident by making sure their safety procedures are both sufficient and rigidly followed to avoid needless loss of life in the future."
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