Horror as engineer, 22, crushed to death at work after machine 'put on skates'

A young engineer was when a large machine fell on top of him in a steel factory, an heard. Connor Borthwick, of Wigan, became trapped under the cutting equipment which had become unbalanced at Partwell Special Steels Limited in Blackburn on November 25, 2021.

Connor and a colleague were using skates placed underneath the machine to move it when it toppled over. The 22-year-old died after suffering severe abdominal and pelvic injuries and in December last year, Partwell Special Steels Limited was fined £80,000 after pleading guilty to health and safety breaches.

The Health and Safety Executive said a suitable and sufficient assessment of the work equipment provided would have shown that the skates used were unsuitable for the work, reported the .

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The HSE said Partwell Special Steels Limited had not undertaken an assessment of the risks involved with moving the machine and that the task had not been suitably planned while no safe system of work had been provided to the employees.

It also found that neither Connor, who was born in Worthing, West Sussex, or his colleague had been given suitable and sufficient training. An inquest into Connor's death, opened less than two weeks after he died, was adjourned to allow for the criminal proceedings to take place.

A final inquest was held this week with area coroner Kate Bisset concluding: "Connor John Borthwick died on November 25, 2021 at Bruce Street, Blackburn.

"Mr Borthwick attended this address as part of his employment as a maintenance engineer. Mr Borthwick and a colleague were attempting to move a large beam press machine within the premises.

"The machine was being placed on to skates when it tipped over on top of Mr Borthwick, causing abdominal and pelvic injuries which resulted in his death. The act of moving the machine had not been risk assessed prior to the attempt."

After Connor's death his sister Emily, a high jumper, described him as an 'amazing, caring, loving and funny little brother'. She added: "Everyone loved Connor.

"He was a good soul, and this was evident from the more than 700 people who came to his funeral to pay their respects and share their personal accounts of how Connor had touched their lives.

"Some simple steps should have been taken and weren't, if they were Connor would be with us today". A spokeswoman for Partwell Special Steels Limited also said their thoughts and prayers were with Mr Borthwick's family and that the firm was "devastated by his loss".

She said nothing like this had ever happened before and the firm had "made improvements" and was "committed to ensuring it does not happen again". She stated: "Connor was a much-loved and respected member of our team and is greatly missed.

"His sense of humour and hilarious anecdotes always brought a smile to our faces. As a small family business, we care deeply about the health and safety of all our staff and continue to feel his absence."