Company fined £100,000 after fatal fall at Belfast workplace
A food company in Belfast has been fined £100,000 following the death of an employee who fell from the top of a bin while attempting to compress rubbish.
Wei Wang, aged 61, died in August 2023 after sustaining a fatal head injury while working at Lee Foods Oriental Supermarket located on Donegall Pass.
At Belfast Crown Court on Friday, Judge Patrick Lynch KC imposed the fine on Lee Feng, trading as Lee Foods, for breaches of workplace safety regulations.
The incident occurred when the lid of the bin was being held open by a rear car park gate. Mr Wang used the lid to support himself as he compressed rubbish with his feet, but the lid slipped from its position. He fell approximately four feet (1.2 meters) from the bin and struck his head on the ground.
Although initially conscious but dazed after the fall, Mr Wang went to a staff toilet where he subsequently lost consciousness.
He died four days later in hospital due to a head injury described by a pathologist as "unsurvivable."
Following the incident, Lee Foods reported the matter to Belfast City Council, which initiated an investigation.
Investigation reveals unsafe work practices
Crown barrister Charles MacCreanor KC informed the court that between 28 July and 15 August 2023, there were 14 instances of employees using the same unsafe procedure.
"The forklift was being used firstly wrongly to gain access to get to the bin and then members of staff were climbing into the bin... and just holding on to give support to whatever they could hold on to.
"In this case the bin itself is not stable, it moves by accident when the forklift touches it, it's not harnessed or supported in any way."
MacCreanor added that purchasing additional bins would have prevented this unsafe practice.
"What was ongoing could have been prevented and this death was easily, simply and sadly preventable,"
He further noted that the unsafe method was not a planned system of work, but management was aware of the practice and failed to take sufficient action.
Company pleads guilty and expresses sympathy
Lee Foods cooperated fully with the investigation and pleaded guilty to charges of failing to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of employees between 28 July and 15 August 2023, and failing to plan, supervise, and carry out work at height safely on 14 August 2023.
Defence barrister Bobbie-Leigh Herdman conveyed the company's
"deepest sympathy and regret"to Mr Wang's family and stated that steps have been taken to improve waste management procedures.
The court heard that management had advised staff to cease the unsafe practice but acknowledged that stronger measures should have been implemented.
Judge reflects on the tragedy
Judge Lynch read a statement from Mr Wang's daughter, who recounted visiting the warehouse on the day of the accident and finding her father unconscious.
"They never got to speak to him again,"
the judge said, emphasizing the irreplaceable loss.
He concluded:
"No penalty, no fine equates to the life of the deceased nor is it intended to."
