Death of Peterborough man in shredder at Mid UK Recycling plant near Grantham was ‘accidental’

Peterborough man Karlis Pavasars died at the Mid UK Recycling plant at Barkston Heath in July 2013, aged 55.

The inquest into his death, which began at Lincoln’s Cathedral Centre last Wednesday and concluded today (Friday), heard how the father-of-two was working for the firm, which shreds household waste to be used as fuel pellets.

Jurors heard how he was seen lying, not moving, as he travelled down a conveyer belt and into a machine at the factory.

A boot was later found stuck in the conveyor belt and a hard hat and keys were found on the floor by the machine. Body fragments and strips of the hi-vis jacket he was wearing were found in the machine. He had to be indentified by DNA taken from his toothbrush.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched an investigation into the incident immediately after it happened. The inquest heard this week from Dr Dominic Swan, of the organisation, who said that a lack of guarding around conveyors could have caused the accident.

Also asked to give evidence by coroner Stuart Fisher was managing director of Mid UK Recycling Chris Mountain. He declined to answer questions put to him about safety at the site.