GM charge over Ellesmere Port death

The company which owns Vauxhall will be prosecuted after an electrician suffered fatal injuries at its car factory in Ellesmere Port.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is bringing criminal proceedings against General Motors after Stanley Heard was found crushed in machinery at the plant in July 2010.

The 59-year-old from Birkenhead died in hospital 11 days later.

The company has been charged with breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

The charges relate to failing to ensure the safety of employees, and failing to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery.

General Motors, which has its UK base in Luton, is due to appear before Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 4 July for the first hearing in the case.