Company Fined for Accident at Work after Foot Crushed in Paving Machine
A company has been fined after an accident at work left a man with his foot crushed in a paving machine.
Alan Seviour was working for the construction firm John Wainwright and Co Ltd when the incident occurred in August 2008. He worked as a delivery driver, but had been asked to carry out some relief work on road surfacing operations they were undertaking. Mr Seviour went to clear the material from the front of the surface paving machine they were using as it was spilling out. He was walking backwards as the machine was in motion. His foot became trapped and was crushed between a speed bump and a bar on the machine.
The foot injuries he suffered were devastating and unfortunately he had to have the lower part of his leg amputated.
John Wainwright and Co Ltd was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive in regards to the accident. The company pleaded guilty to breaking the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 at Taunton Magistrates Court recently. They were fined £10,000 and made to pay legal costs of over £8,000.
A spokesperson for the HSE explained that although the surface paving machine is slow moving, it is unsafe for anyone to work in front of it. Mr Seviour still works for the company as a delivery driver in a specially adapted van.
It is unknown whether he made an accident at work compensation claim for his injuries.
