A LEADING global defence company has been fined £80,000 after a worker was killed in an explosion at its Chorley site.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted BAE Systems Land Systems (Munitions and Ordnance) Ltd following Lynda Wilkins’ death at the company’s explosives plant on Central Avenue in Chorley.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Mrs Wilkins was working with lead styphnate, a sensitive primary explosive, on March 2 2005 when she was killed.

HSE has been unable to establish the exact cause of the explosion as Mrs Wilkins was working alone.

The HSE investigation found that the company allowed unsafe working procedures to develop by providing too little supervision and monitoring. BAE Systems, of Farnborough Aerospace Centre in Hampshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by failing to ensure the safety of its employees.

It was ordered to pay £118,000 towards the cost of the prosecution, in addition to the fine, at Liverpool Crown Court.

HSE inspector Colin Hutchinson said: “It is clear that BAE Systems’ failings contributed to her death.”