The tragedy happened at the company’s Brinsworth site at Rotherham.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said a limit switch fitted to the crane was defective, allowing the hoist rope to over-tighten and snap, causing a 260kg block to fall onto the worker from a height of seven meters.

The 34-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene on 2 July 2003.

HSE inspector David Bradley said it was a tragic and entirely avoidable accident.

He said: “The limit switch fitted to this crane to prevent over hoisting was a safety critical device. It should have been properly maintained in a safe working condition, and regularly tested. The fact that these simple measures were not taken led to this tragic death.”

The HSE has warned companies to put in place proper safety precautions and procedures to ensure the safety at work of their employees.