A COMPANY has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter following the death of a sailor at Fawley refinery in 2008.

Juan Romero, from Honduras, was working on a fuel tanker which had docked at the refinery when he was crushed by a large fuel pipe that fell on top of him.

Today the Crown Prosecution Service said the pipe was suspended from a jib, which gave way after a “severely corroded” connector bolt failed.

Esso Petroleum, which owns the refinery and the jib, has been charged with offences under the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act.

Austin and McLean Ltd, which had been hired by Esso to undertake maintenance work on the jib, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter.

Representatives from the two companies are due to appear at Southampton Magistrates' Court on September 5.