A FIRM which admitted failing to ensure the safety of the bosses' nephew after he was killed in a quarry accident insisted the lapse was not due to cost cuts, a court heard.

Father-of-two Gary Ward, from Crook, County Durham, died when a crushing machine slipped and fell on him at Divet Hill Quarry near Great Bavington, Northumberland, on February 19, 2009.

The 43-year-old, who was due to get married later that year, was working for Ward Brothers Plant Hire, of Langley Moor, near Durham, which was run by his uncles Stuart and Angus Ward. He had worked for the company for at least 15 years.

An inquest, which found Mr Ward's death was accidental, heard the fitter had been checking out a problem with the heavy crusher's bearings while its engine was still active. As a result it partially slipped on gravel. The Health and Safety Executive also found a mechanical fault which made the right hand track shift.

Ward Bros Plant Hire earlier pleaded guilty to failing to discharge a duty to ensure the health and safety of workers.

Cemex, the company in overall charge of the quarry, and which hired Ward Bros also admitted failing to ensure the health and safety of employees at the site.

Sentencing began at Newcastle Crown Court today (Thursday, December 18) and concludes next week.

Prosecutor Jason Pitter said: “He (Mr Ward) came to be underneath the machine at 3.30pm to carry out something to do with his work.

“We’re not sure what he was doing but the machine moved forward and crushed him. The machine should not have moved or have been able to move.

“The defendants should have taken adequate steps to avoid this.”

John Cooper, for Ward Bros, told the court the company had a good safety record.

He said: “Gary Ward was a trusted, trained, experienced and respected member of staff.

“We are concerned about thoughts that there might have been cost cutting as there is no suggestion of that by Ward Bros.

“It is a very high risk industry and they have taken all of the composite safety measures.

Bernard Thorogood, mitigating for Cemex, said: “This is a company that takes safety very seriously.

“What happened at Divet Hill is a really exception event regarding a very respectable company.

“Cemex require all workers on their sites to have the proper safety training. It’s the benchmark they set.”