Shropshire housebuilder fined after worker loses leg

Contractor Anthony Wilson Homes has been fined £35,000 after a man's leg had to be amputated when a tipper truck fell on him.

The principal site contractor, from Shifnal in Shropshire, was one of two firms fined after pleading guilty to breaching sections of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

The firm, which has gone into liquidation, was fined £25,000 with costs of £10,000 for its lack of site safety.

Plant hire and haulage firm MJ Curle Ltd, also of Shifnal, was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £7,500 at Shrewsbury crown court, after pleading guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The incident occurred on 24 May 2005, when a tipper truck carrying tar-covered road rubble toppled onto its side, trapping a workman by his foot. This later led to the amputation of part of his left leg.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector Katharine Walker said: “All employers have a responsibility to ensure that safe working practices are in place and that suitable risk assessments are undertaken, because failure to do so could cost lives as well as result in enforcement action from HSE.

“In this instance a man lost part of a limb and his life has been dramatically affected because of these failings.”