THE widow of an Ulverston man who was killed at work has criticised the level of fine imposed on the company which admitted failing to protect her husband.

Jenna Robinson spoke after Three Shires Ltd was ordered to pay £15,000 at Barrow Crown Court on Monday.

Her husband Tony – the father of their four children, of Lime Tree Road – died in February 2010 while clearing land at Barrow Docks as a sub-contractor for the firm.

He was killed when he was hit by a metal chain link, travelling at 300 miles an hour, which came loose from the head of an industrial strimmer being used by another sub-contracted worker of Three Shires.

The Lincolnshire firm admitted in court last month that it had failed to carry out necessary health and safety checks and failing to ensure Mr Robinson was safe in the work place.

Speaking after the fine was imposed, Mrs Robinson said: “I am shocked. I thought the fine would have been quite a bit more. No money could ever change the circumstan-ces, but if they had followed the guidelines in the first place this would never have happened.

“I find it very distres-sing. Our children have to go on with no father figure in their lives. It has been very difficult for two years - it has been an uphill struggle.

“Tony was a lovely man who lived for his family. In my eyes, this should never have happened.”

Before issuing the fine to the company, Judge Paul Batty QC told the court: “This case repre-sents a huge tragedy for the Robinson family.

“Mrs Robinson lost her husband and soul mate – her husband lost his life needlessly and leaves behind a widow and four children. He was the breadwinner. The whole family is struggling without him.

“I salute Mrs Robin-son for the quiet dignity she has shown through-out these proceedings.

He added “No price can be placed on the loss of human life.”

Mr Batty said Three Shires Ltd had been responsible for ‘signifi-cant and serious’ breaches of health and safety, including an incomplete risk asses-sment of the dangers to workers on the site.

But he accepted that the company did have a ‘responsible’ approach to health and safety, and that despite only being small, employed a fully-qualified safety consultant.

He said: “I do not wish to cause this small company to be put out of business, but there has to be, in my judgment, a significant penalty to reflect the gravity of this case.”

A statement from the company said: “The directors of Three Shires Ltd express their deepest sympathy to Mr Robinson’s family. The prosecution rightly accepted that there was no causal connection between the company’s limited breaches and the tragic loss of life.”

The firm was also ordered to pay £10,015 in costs.