BOSSES at a South Yorkshire quarry where a teenager was crushed to death have denied refusing to replace a security fence to prevent trespassers.
Amber Worth, aged 13, died instantly last April when a half ton boulder toppled on top of her after she slipped on sandstone stockpile while playing with friends at Carlton Main Brickworks in Grimethorpe near Barnsley.
Amber, of Park Avenue, Brierley, and her pals had gained access to the quarry - a regular play area for youngsters - after thieves and vandals removed security fencing and warning signs so many times that bosses stopped replacing them.
Asked at the Sheffield inquest if he had refused to pay for a new fence because it was too expensive, company chairman Oliver Stephenson replied: "Absolutely not."
The inquest had already heard from Daniel Wilson, a former health and safety officer at the company, who told the court attitudes to health and safety were proactive rather than reactive.
He claimed his calls to replace the fence to meet regulations had fallen on "deaf ears".
But Mr Stephenson said Daniel may have harboured "ill feeling" towards the company after his father, Derek Wilson, left under a cloud.
He said: "It could be construed he had an axe to grind. I don't think it is beyond the realms of possibility that his father could bring pressure to bear on his son."
Asked about allegations that health and safety was not taken seriously, Mr Stephenson replied: "I was astonished, I couldn't believe it.
"The portrait of Carlton Brickworks as he described it is simply one I do not recognise."
The court also heard from Kevin Wilson, Daniel Wilson's uncle and the firm's managing director.
Despite having overall responsibility for health and safety Mr Wilson admitted he was unaware a risk assessment had been carried out which found there was a high risk of a fatality or serious injury occurring at the site.
He denied ignoring the risk assessment and memos from the quarry manager asking for the fence to be replaced.
And he claimed the fence was never mentioned at quarterly health and safety meetings.
He also admitted failing to investigate after children broke into the quarry and played 'chicken' with one of the excavators.
Mr Wilson denied having a reactive approach to health and safety and said if staff had any concerns he expected them to raise them with him.
The jury is expected to be sent out to consider its verdict today.
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