A WATER company is set to be given a six-figure fine after admitting responsibility for a man being crushed to death at work.

Raymond Holmes, 60, from Rayleigh, was working at Thames Water’s Coppermill Lane site, in Walthamstow, when he was killed by a large maintenance vehicle which was reversing on April 30, 2010.

Thames Water now says it will admit failing to ensure Mr Holmes' health, safety and welfare when it comes to court in December.

Mr Holmes, who had lived in Rayleigh for four years, had worked for the firm for 30 years and was looking forward to retirement when the tragic incident happened.

A spokesman for Thames Water said: “Ray Holmes was a loyal, long-standing employee of Thames Water.

“We have informed the prosecution we intend to enter a guilty plea in relation to the charges that have been laid against us under the relevant Health and Safety At Work Act legislation.

“The sentencing hearing will take place on December 8, 2014 at Southwark Crown Court.”

A union has slammed the amount of time it has taken for Thames Water to admit its liability in the case.

The Crown Prosecution Service gave serious consideration to placing workplace manslaughter charges in this case, but decided against it earlier this year.

The case was then passed to the Health and Safety Executive who brought charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Dave Knight, president of Waltham Forest Trades Council, said: “His family feel like it’s taken an inordinately long time to bring this to court.

“It’s been heart-breaking for them, it’s terrible. It’s now four years since the accident and it’s still not fully resolved.

“It’s intolerable they have had to wait this long and can only have added to their families suffering.”

Mr Knight believed the family had launched civil proceedings against the employer, but said he did not know the outcome.

There is no limit to the level of fine a judge can issue, but he will look into the company’s financial situation before deciding.

Similar cases with similar sized companies have attracted “six figure” fines.

A spokesman for HSE South East and London said: “Magistrates have a limit to how much they can fine, but because it’s in Crown Court it’s an open book. It will depend of the company’s financial circumstances, ,but it could be fairly substantial.”