AN investigation has been launched after a man was crushed to death at a brickworks.

Sussex Police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are trying to find out how the 60-year-old working at the Rudgwick Brickworks near Horsham was crushed by a rolling machine used to flatten the ground.

Emergency services including four ambulance cars, more paramedics in another ambulance and an air ambulance were called at around 1.45pm on Friday [15/7] but the man died at the scene from his injuries.

He had been pinned to the ground after the heavy machine toppled over and fell on him, reports suggest.

A police spokesman yesterday said the joint investigation would look at the circumstances to see "what offences, if any, may have been committed" but said enquiries were at an early stage.

An HSE spokeswoman confirmed investigators were involved but no further information was available at present.

The man - who worked for Restoration Agriculture Ltd - has not yet been formally identified and the West Sussex coroner is due to open an inquest later this week.

He was employed by the waste management company, which is based at nearby Pallinghurst Farm, as part of a project to fill in land at the former brickworks.

This is part of a redevelopment plan for the site before it can be used for farmland and agriculture.

The Lynwick Street site where the man was crushed is next to the home of local cheese Sussex Charmer and Southdowns butter, made by Bookham Harrison Farms. Natural Skincare Company and Firebird Brewing Company are also based at the brickworks.

A Restoration Agriculture Ltd spokeswoman said: "We can confirm an incident occurred on July 15 in which a plant operative died whilst operating a compactor roller. This is being investigated by the police and the Health and Safety Executive and we are cooperating with them to the fullest extent."

  • The Health and Safety Executive has since said: “HSE conducted a thorough investigation into the incident and found the duty holder had done all that was reasonably practicable and there were no breaches of regulations. Therefore HSE did not pursue further action against any party.” An inquest found his death was accidental. 

Background

THE FORMER Rudgwick brickworks and surrounding farmland was bought in 2012 by R Harrison and Sons, dairy farmers at the next door Woodsomes Farm.

It is intended to be used as farmland and the buildings were converted for business use, according to the Rudgwick Preservation Society.

The site was originally known as Hobbs Brickworks and was started by Harold Tate, a Rudgwick builder and master brickmaker, properly in 1928. Although a small operation is thought to have started there before the First World War.