A scaffolding firm from Bury have been fined £40,000 after a crane accident left an employee severely injured.
In 2008, David Collins, 31, was working for Spectra Scaffolding in Stoke-on-Trent.
He was crushed and received severe injuries when 21-foot scaffolding tubes, weighing 1.5 tonnes, broke loose from the crane and fell on him.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) who stated the reasons for the work accident were entirely avoidable, and was down to lack of maintenance on the crane and insufficient training provided to Mr Collins.
Spectra Scaffolding pleaded guilty to the charges.
At court it transpired that the company’s management had known that the crane was faulty but had not done anything to fix the problems, and Mr Collins had not been trained sufficiently to recognise that one of the sling catches was faulty and had become loose.
HSE inspector Lindsay Hope said: “As a result of this incident Mr Collins has been severely disabled and could easily have been killed.
“Companies that operate lorry-mounted cranes must ensure their operators undertake appropriate, recognised training in all aspects.
“In this instance, the lift wasn’t properly planned or supervised and Mr Collins hadn’t been sufficiently trained in how to use the crane and slings properly.
“Furthermore, the equipment had not been properly maintained and should never have been used.”
In addition to the £40,000 fine, the firm was ordered to pay £45,000 prosecution costs.
