Companies Fined Over Work Accident

The case of a man who suffered serious leg injuries at work when an excavator reversed over him on a Leeds building site highlights the need for firms to ensure health and safety is a priority, according to a work accident specialist at Irwin Mitchell.

Jack Lunn (Construction) Ltd and Fastsource Ltd have been fined and ordered to pay costs following the incident in June 2008, when a 58-year-old man from Barnsley suffered crush injuries when the vehicle backed into him on a building site in Tinshill.

According to the Health and Safety Executive, the incident could have been avoided by improvements in the segregation of vehicles and pedestrians or the suspension of vehicle movements at certain points in the day.

The injured worker – who has had to purchase an electric wheelchair to aid his mobility since the incident – was employed by Jack Lunn on the site, while the man operating the excavator was working for Fastsource.

Claire Newstead, a workplace injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, acts for people who have suffered serious injuries at work as a result of safety failings.

Commenting on the incident, she said: “This story demonstrates how health and safety in the workplace is absolutely vital and must be adhered to and recognised by all companies, no matter how big or small. 

“This gentleman suffered from horrific injuries which could have been prevented had proper designated areas for pedestrians and machinery been identified.  This relatively small step could have made all the difference to this man’s life, which will now never be the same.”