A NEWPORT company has been fined £35,000 for an accident in which an engineer died.

Mr Patrick Fox, of Maesycwmmer, was crushed to death as he climbed from an overhead crane at the Alcan aluminium works, at Rogerstone, in March last year.

Mr Fox was trapped as the crane moved along the hotline, where ten-ton aluminium coils are stored. He had climbed across the crane rather than use a walkway.

The walkway was narrow, open on one side and covered in the oily film which was part of the production process and coated all surfaces in the area, Newport crown court heard.

Imposing the fine and £8,150 costs, Judge Tom Crowther said he was satisfied that the company took safety seriously.

The level of the fine was not meant to reflect the loss to Mr Fox's family, he added. Mr Fox was one of four engineers who went on to the crane to sort out a problem with the wheels.

The accident, which took place on March 14, 2000, at about 2.45pm, happened as Mr Fox was leaving the crane, said Mr Bryan Thomas, prosecuting for the Health and Safety Executive.

He said: "It is likely that the crane moved unexpectedly and Mr Fox was trapped around waist height.

"The access walkway was in a dangerous condition. It was 14 to 18 inches wide and had one hand-rail and was uneven and slippery."

The company admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act and had taken immediate action on the access to the crane, said Mr Bernard Thoroughgood, defending. He said: "The company first wish me to take this public opportunity to express its sincere regrets and sympathy to Mr Fox's family.

"There was an immediate review of operating methods and the walkway has been improved."

Judge Crowther said the company had not fallen far short of the expected standard but the fine had to reflect public concern. He also said the driver of the crane could not be blamed.