North London company slapped with £400k fine after worker nearly crushed in shocking site incident
A North London company has been hit with a hefty £400,000 fine after a horrific accident nearly claimed the life of a council worker at a waste facility in Edmonton.
The incident occurred on May 13, 2022, at the London Energy Ltd transfer station, where Enfield Council employee Paul McDaid was carrying out his duties. The 58-year-old was in the process of closing the tailgate on his tractor after unloading waste when disaster struck.
A large shovel loader reversed directly into him—its driver unaware of his presence—crushing McDaid between the heavy vehicle and his tractor. The impact left him with life-altering injuries.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched a probe into the circumstances surrounding the incident. What they found was deeply concerning. The company was in the midst of major construction work, and the area where McDaid was injured was operating as a temporary unit.
Crucially, the investigation revealed that the site hadn’t been properly risk assessed. There were no effective measures in place to separate pedestrians from moving machinery.
“Due to the failings of this company a man has been left with very serious injuries. They failed to segregate pedestrians and vehicles, putting both employees and council workers at risk,” said HSE inspector Pippa Knott.
“Too many workers are injured every year as a result of being struck by moving vehicles which could be avoided by implementing suitable control measures.”
London Energy Ltd admitted guilt to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. As a result, Westminster Magistrates’ Court ordered the firm to pay a £400,000 fine along with £5,573 in legal costs on 27 June 2025.
The key failing? A basic but critical one—no barriers or clear systems to prevent people and machines from clashing in shared spaces.
Despite being a temporary site setup, the law still applies—and this case serves as a harsh reminder that cutting corners on safety can have devastating consequences.
London Energy Ltd has yet to release a public comment regarding the incident or the court ruling. Meanwhile, Paul McDaid continues to recover from an accident that never should have happened.
