A Birmingham-based construction company has been fined by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a worker suffered multiple injuries in an accident at work.

Michael Tomlinson, from Birmingham, a groundworker for Parkstone Construction Ltd, was injured while preparing foundations for a new supermarket in November 2010.

He sustained multiple injuries, including a fractured wrist and ruptured bladder, when he was knocked to the ground and crushed by a reversing digger whose driver had failed to spot him.

Incident was entirely preventable

The HSE told Mansfield Magistrate’s Court that Parkstone Construction Ltd had failed to ensure that workers and moving vehicles were safely segregated. The firm pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay £6,447 in costs.

HSE Inspector Nic Rigby said: “This incident was entirely preventable, and Mr Tomlinson could have avoided serious and painful injuries had work at the site been better managed.

“Those in charge of construction sites must ensure that pedestrians and vehicles are effectively and safely segregated. There is clear guidance on how to achieve this and ensure incidents of this kind can be avoided.”

Laura Storer, a solicitor at Thompsons Solicitors’ Serious Injuries Team said: “Effective segregation of moving vehicles from workers on foot is essential, and nowhere more so than on a busy construction site with large heavy vehicles. Parkstone Construction Ltd should have identified this as a hazard and took the necessary safety measures as part of their risk management procedures.”