A STEEL fabricating company has been fined £100,000 after a worker suffered a badly broken leg when he was crushed.

Lemon Groundwork Solutions Limited, of Russell Gardens, Wickford, admitted breaching health and safety regulations after the employee suffered multiple breaks in his leg.

The incident occurred in December 2016 when the employee, Shaka Hawthorne, was struck by a bundle of “steels” that had fallen from a fork lift truck while they were being moved.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the company did not have a safe system in place to avoid this kind of incident.

In particular, workstations were not separated from vehicle routes and lifting accessories were not provided to reduce the risk of reinforcing bars slipping from the forks.

Additionally, the forklift truck drivers were not provided with site-specific and load-specific training.

The company admitted breaching section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act when representatives appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on September 12 this year.

The charge states the company failed to ensure the health and safety at work of its employees in that they were exposed to risks to their health and safety as they were at risk of death or serious injury from being struck by vehicles or materials.

At the same court on November 1, the bench fined the company £100,000 and ordered them to pay costs of £6,253.14.

The courts ordered the company to pay £8,900 a month beginning December 1.

The company’s guilty plea was taken into account when the sentence was imposed.

They must also pay a victim surcharge of £170.

After the hearing HSE inspector Nikki Hughes said “This incident could easily have been avoided by the implementation of affordable control measures, such as a lifting accessory being used on the forklift truck.

“Handling and moving reinforcing bars is a well-recognised industry risk, which the company failed to identify and manage, despite the activity occurring frequently during a working day.

“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”