Health and safety horrors (8): death from escaped cow

In June 2024 JJ Morris Ltd, livestock auctioneers, was fined at Llanelli magistrates’court following the death of a member of the public.

Facts

·        In November 2022 a cow was being unloaded into a pen at Whitland livestock market.

·        It escaped and attacked a member of the public who was crossing a road and who suffered fatal multiple injuries.

·        An employee of the company was injured while trying to recapture the cow.

·        The company had failed to implement basic, physical control measures to prevent cattle from escaping.

·        The company’s risk assessment was neither suitable nor sufficient.

The company was fined £75,000 plus £5000 costs under ss. 2 and 3 of HSWA.