A RECYCLING centre worker in Redruth was crushed to death inside a rubbish compactor turned on by an untrained colleague - and his body only found when his phone rang.

H&A Recycling admitted corporate manslaughter after new dad Dale McClelland, aged 23, was killed inside one of its industrial machines, writes John Bett, SWNS.

It had been switched on unintentionally by Kyle Harvey, who had just joined the company and should never have been put in that position, a court heard.

The victim's body was only discovered after he 'went missing' and horrified colleagues heard his mobile ringing inside the machine.

During sentencing at Plymouth Crown Court today (Friday), Judge Neil Garnham said Mr Harvey was not at fault personally for the tragedy in November 2017.

Instead, the judge said full responsibility was laid at the company and he described health and safety at the site in Redruth, Cornwall, as "reminiscent of Victorian factories."

But he added: "That would be unfair on Victorian factory owners."

The court heard Mr McClelland, who had never received proper training during his employment, was working with Mr Harvey on a rubbish compactor that was liable to blockages.

The court heard how staff would climb into the dangerous machine to clear blockages in what was described as one of a number of health and safety breaches at the site.

On the date of the incident, Mr McClelland - who had a one-year-old daughter with his partner he was due to marry in 2019 - climbed into the machine to clear a blockage while Mr Harvey, who was on a lower level, was seen walking back to the control panel.

After another blockage was identified, Mr Harvey joined with other employees in trying to locate Mr McClelland by ringing his phone. But his body was discovered when they heard his phone ringing from inside.

Judge Garnham said: "As a result of the gross breach of the company's duties towards its employees, Dale McClelland was killed in the course of his employment in the most appalling circumstances.

"He was crushed to death in an industrial bailer, his death has had devastating effects on his family, most notably his fiancée and their daughter Grace.

"I had read to me victim impact statements and I bare closely in mind all that they say - what is obvious is that there is nothing I can say or do that will ease their suffering but I acknowledge it all the same."

The court heard how there were 14 members of staff at the site, who would sort through bags of rubbish to filter recyclable and non-recyclable materials.

Conveyor belts and two compactors were used, alongside various vehicles, and the court heard how staff were not properly trained in how to operate the tools they had to use.

Furthermore, guardrails and other safety equipment, including kill switches, were not properly installed or otherwise functioning.

Judge Garnham added that senior members of staff were trained on how to use the compactors, and warned of their risks - but this information didn't trickle down to the employees using them on a daily basis.

He said: "Staff received such training as they were given on the job. Those using the bailer in November 2017 had never received formal training."

On the day in question paramedics were called and they discovered Dale with "catastrophic crushing injuries" and pronounced him dead at the scene.

Judge Garnham added: "It is plain that the numerous breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 lead to Mr McClelland's death.

"This was just a part of the appalling culture at H&A - there was evidence of employees not wearing their PPE, play fighting amongst the rubbish at the site, being carried on the vehicles on the site.

"Employees were seen jumping down chutes onto rubbish, two employees were seen fighting on a pile of rubbish, one employee was seen hiding under rubbish on a conveyor belt then jumping out on other employees.

"I described the conditions with missing or malfunction guarding as reminiscent of Victorian factories but that would be unfair on Victorian factory owners. They would be appalled by the conditions at H&A recycling.

"It was eminently foreseeable that serious injury was inevitable. Never has the cliché 'an accident waiting to happen' been more appropriate."

H&A Recycling had admitted its guilt at the first possible opportunity. As such it was fined £200,000 and ordered to pay costs of £45,691.60.

H&A Recycling was subsequently taken over in September 2018 and no longer operates under its previous name.