TATA STEEL has been fined more than £1.5 million following the death of a “wonderful” rugby-loving contractor at the Port Talbot steelworks.

Justin Day, 44, was carrying out repairs when he sustained fatal injuries at the South Wales site in September 2019.

He was called on the radio with a request to bring tools but not warned that overhead machinery had been restarted.

When Mr Day entered, he triggered sensors of a conveyor system that was being put back into service.

This activated a moving beam in a live section, fatally injuring him.

His family learned of his death while they were watching his youngest son play in a school rugby match, Swansea Crown Court heard.

His wife Zoe Day described him as a “wonderful man” who was bubbly and happy, with a passion for rugby.

“I have struggled since that day, mentally, I am lost and don’t know where I’m going with life. It’s shattered my whole world,” she said in a victim impact statement.

Prosecutor Nuhu Gobir argued Tata had failed to ensure the conveyor system was properly isolated and guarded, and did not take sufficient steps to manage the safety of the ongoing work.

The company pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the health and safety of its employees and a mirroring offence covering contractors.

Judge Geraint Walters fined the firm £1.5m with an order to pay £26,318.67 prosecution costs on Thursday.

He said the area that Mr Day, from Llansamlet, Swansea, was working in was dangerous and either the call should have been cancelled or Mr Day told the system was partially live.

Health and Safety Executive inspector Gethyn Jones said: “Justin Day’s death could so easily have been prevented.”