Building Chemical Research has been fined £20,000 after an employee was killed by an industrial mixing blade.

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Bury-based Building Chemical Research (BCR) and its company director Stuart Reich, 62, following Paul Palmer's death at the company's premises iin Radcliffe.

The 44-year-old father of one from Radcliffe had climbed into the machine - a powerful, slow speed mixer - to clean it on 30 August 2005 when it was switched on by another employee.

Bolton Crown Court heard that it should have been impossible to switch on the machine while someone was inside.

Palmer served in the Falklands, Bosnia and Kuwait during his 13 years in the army. His brother, Ted Palmer, said: "My other brother, John, died from an asbestos disease a few years before Paul, and their deaths have really devastated our family."

BCR was fined £16,000 and ordered to pay £8,000 towards the cost of the prosecution on 20 September. The company's director, Stuart Reich of Gisburn Road, Gisburn, Lancashire, was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,000.

Both admitted breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by failing to ensure the safety of employees.

HSE inspector Alan Meyer said: "This was a totally avoidable incident that resulted in the tragic death of an employee. The guard on the mixer was totally inadequate and both the safety switches failed.

"Had the machine had a proper guard and a working cut-out switch, Mr Palmer would still be alive today."

BCR develops and manufactures chemical products for many well-known brands in the construction industry.

More than 3.2 million people are employed in the manufacturing sector in Great Britain, according to the HSE. Last year, 35 workers were killed and there were more than 31,000 serious injuries in the industry.