Families of two pest control workers who tragically died due to a gas leak at a Norfolk factory expressed their grief today as two companies were fined a total of £2.5 million for the incident. Neil Moon, 49, and Jonathan “Jon” Collins, 34, lost their lives at Banham Poultry factory in Norfolk when they unknowingly entered an area filled with deadly nitrogen gas. The court found that both Banham Poultry Limited and Air Products Plc were responsible for the safety failure that led to the men’s deaths.
The tragedy occurred in October 2018 when Moon and Collins, carrying out routine pest control work, entered a narrow passageway where nitrogen gas had accumulated due to a flawed system installation. The court heard that the gas escaped into the confined space, displacing oxygen and causing the men to suffocate without any warning.
Air Products Plc, overseeing the faulty system installation, was fined £2,475,000 for serious safety oversights, while Banham Poultry, which went into administration shortly after the incident, received a nominal fine of £900. The judge noted that the fine for Banham Poultry would have been significantly higher if the company was still operational.
Moon, a father of three, had recently married and was expecting a child when he tragically passed away. His wife described him as a kind and uplifting person. Collins, also a father of three, was remembered by his fiancé as a friend to all. The families of the victims expressed their ongoing pain over the loss and criticized the companies for their negligence.
The incident stemmed from the installation of a flawed SafeChill system at the factory, designed to reduce bacteria levels on bird carcasses using extreme low temperatures. However, the gas release system was not properly managed, leading to the fatal accident. The families called for accountability in workplace safety to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The families reflected on the devastating impact of the loss of Moon and Collins, emphasizing the need for companies to prioritize employee safety to avoid such avoidable disasters.
