THE widow of a lorry driver who was killed in an industrial accident as he made a delivery has won a major payout to support her grieving family.

Father-of-three Robert Ismay, of Sowerby, near Thirsk, was knocked off his lorry and crushed by a three-tonne load of steel tubes on December 6, 2012.

The 42-year-old was working for Thirsk-based Tomrods and was delivering to Davers Steel in Sheffield when the tragedy took place.

Last month, Davers Steel was fined £62,000 and ordered to pay £38,000 in costs for a catalogue of safety failings that led to Mr Ismay’s death after a hearing at Sheffield Crown Court.

Now Leeds County Court has approved a six-figure settlement from Davers Steel and Tomrods for his wife Michelle.

Mrs Ismay said: “More than two years on from Robert’s death, we still miss him so much and are still as a family trying to come to terms with our loss.

“Nothing will ever being him back, but it is a massive weight off my shoulders to know that our children will be supported by the settlement which has now been secured.”

She added: “While this is welcome, we do still hope that steps have been taken to ensure that proper and safe working practices have been introduced to prevent the same problems from being repeated. The incident which led to Robert’s death simply should not have happened.”

Claire Newstead, workplace injury lawyer at law firm Irwin Mitchell which represents the family, said: “This is a truly tragic case in which a series of avoidable safety failings culminated in a family losing a much-loved husband and father.

“While no amount of money will ever change what happened in this terrible incident, we hope that the settlement approved for Michelle and the family will provide them with vital long-term financial support.

“We also hope that this case serves as an important reminder to employers of the importance of making the health and safety of their workers – as well as visitors to their sites – a top priority.

“All businesses have a duty in this regard and this case sadly shows the massive consequences when they fail to meet it.”