Man died after suffering ‘catastrophic’ injuries fixing door at work
Anthony’s wife Ewelina says it’s “still difficult” to talk about her husband without crying [Family photo]
A man was fatally injured while trying to repair a door at his workplace in a “completely preventable” incident, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said.
Anthony Webb, 59, suffered “catastrophic” injuries while trying to repair an industrial overhead door at the advertising printing company where he worked in Cardiff on September 5, 2022. He died the next day.
The HSE said maintaining industrial doors was a “high risk” activity requiring “specialist equipment” and that the company “failed to recognize these risks”.
Anthony’s employer, GNW 2023 Realizations Limited, was fined £400,000 for health and safety breaches.
Anthony’s wife, Ewelina, said her husband’s death was “still very raw.”
“I feel like I’m on a rollercoaster. I still find it hard to talk about Tony without crying,” she said.
According to the HSE, Anthony was attempting to re-tension electrically operated sectional overhead doors at the site using an industrial wrench when the tool slipped.
The spring unwound uncontrollably, causing the key to fly out and hit him. His injuries were described as “catastrophic”.
An HSE investigation found the company had failed to adequately maintain the doors despite two previous incidents of faulty doors causing injuries to workers.
He said the company did not maintain a routine inspection or preventive maintenance program and that Anthony was repeatedly allowed to make repairs to the doors despite not having the appropriate training to undertake the work.
The HSE said the company also failed to carry out a suitable risk assessment, establish a safe system of work or provide appropriate tools and equipment.
‘Everyone loved him’
In a victim impact statement, Ewelina said she and her husband were “together 24/7”.
“Tony loved tinkering and fixing things for his friends and neighbors. He was a cheeky guy, everyone loved him,” he said.
“I still meet up with Tony’s friends who are also friends of mine. I have a hard time when we talk about things and Tony isn’t there to experience it.
“Every day when I wake up, it’s like a cloud is hanging over me. Some days I cry without knowing I’m going to cry.”
HSE inspector Georgina Bennett said: “This incident was completely avoidable. Maintaining industrial doors is a high-risk activity involving stored energy in door springs, requires specialist equipment and should only be carried out by suitably trained people.
“This company failed to recognize these risks and, despite two previous incidents involving overhead doors, had not carried out regular maintenance to detect and deal with the deterioration in their condition.
“Tony Webb’s death could have been prevented had these failures not occurred. Our thoughts are with his loved ones who mourn his loss.”
GNW 2023 Realizations Limited was fined £400,000 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £2,000 and costs of £17,854 at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates’ Court on 17 June 2026.
