Tata Steel has been fined £1.5 million following the death of contractor Justin Day, who was fatally crushed while working at the company’s Port Talbot steelworks in South Wales.
The incident occurred on 25 September 2019, when Mr Day, a 44-year-old father-of-three and grandfather from Llansamlet, Swansea, was called to assist with a hydraulic leak on a large conveyor system. Although power had been isolated to part of the machinery, other sections remained live. As Mr Day climbed into the system, sensors triggered movement in a live section, causing a beam to crush him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Tata Steel had failed to properly isolate and guard the conveyor system, and had not taken sufficient steps to manage the safety of the ongoing work. The company pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
At Swansea Crown Court on 31 July, Tata Steel was fined £1.5 million and ordered to pay £26,318.67 in costs.
HSE inspector Gethyn Jones said: “Justin Day’s death could so easily have been prevented. A much-loved family man is not here because of failures in health and safety basics.”
Mr Day’s wife, Zoe, delivered a powerful victim impact statement that underscored the devastating personal toll. “Since losing Justin I am not the same person I was,” she said. “I have struggled since that day – mentally, I am lost and don’t know where I’m going with life. It’s shattered my whole world.”
She described their 23-year relationship as inseparable: “We did everything together. I can’t put into words how much this has affected me. I am a shadow of my former self and from the day of the incident, my world fell apart.”
The tragedy unfolded while the family was waiting for Mr Day to arrive at his youngest son’s school rugby match — a sport he passionately supported. “Justin’s passion was rugby – he loved coaching and watching our boys play. He was their biggest fan,” Zoe said. “I never imagined I’d be receiving the news that he had been crushed to death at work.”
(Image: Family photo)
Judge Geraint Walters offered condolences to the family, acknowledging the profound loss: “It’s perfectly plain that Mr Day was a family man, who has left many people bereft to have lost someone so precious. No fine I impose today can alleviate the suffering of those who have lost a loved one, no fine I impose today can restore life.”
Mr Day would have turned 50 this year.
Construction of a new electric arc furnace at the Port Talbot site began earlier this month — a stark reminder of the evolving landscape at the UK’s largest steelworks, and the lives that have shaped its history.
