Major construction firm handed safety fine
February 16th 09:37 Health and Safety
A recent court case has highlighted the fact that large companies are not beyond the reach of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Wolverhampton-based construction firm Carillion, one of the UK's largest property services companies, has been fined £185,000 and ordered to pay £9,821 in court costs after pleading guilty to breaking sections of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations.
Manchester Crown Court imposed the fine after hearing how a worker was left with life-threatening injuries when he was run over by a reversing truck.
The HSE prosecuted Carillion after the incident which left Michael Gresty with multiple injuries including fractures to his left shoulder, right foot, seven ribs and his spine.
Mr Gresty is unlikely ever to return to work after the accident also left him with a dislocated hip, pins in his spine and right knee and only one kidney.
HSE inspector Neil Martin said: "Michael Gresty is lucky to be alive following this very serious incident and he will never fully recover.
"His injuries could easily have been prevented if Carillion had followed basic health and safety procedures. It is not acceptable that a construction company, which employs 50,000 people around the world, did not carry out the right risk assessment or put a system in place for preventing collisions."
