Broken leg costs firm dearly

A Northampton company has been fined £150,000 after one of its workers sustained a broken leg.

AGC Automotive was also ordered to pay £9,460 in costs after pleading guilty to contravening health and safety regulations in Northampton Crown Court.

Bill Williams, a visiting IT contractor, suffered a serious multiple fracture of his left leg in the incident after being hit by a reversing fork-lift truck while on the company premises.

He had been crossing a pedestrian walkway at the time of the collision.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector Mr Welsh commented: "The judge correctly pointed [out] that AGC showed a reckless disregard of its duties towards Mr Williams as a non-employee visiting its site and this is reflected in the level of the fine."

The HSE takes injuries arising from workplace transport very seriously, he added.

A contractor was recently fined after one of its workers was knocked down by a taxi while painting road markings in London.

13/09/2007 15:30