A Preston steel firm has appeared in court after a working platform slid off the forks of a forklift truck and struck one of its employees.
The 50-year-old fractured a rib, and suffered muscle and back injuries when he was hit by the heavy metal platform.
The company, which manufactures and supplies steel products, was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive after an investigation found the platform had not been secured to the forklift, and instead was just resting on the forks.
Preston Magistrates' Court was told the truck was being used to lift a pile of steel mesh when the platform slid off. No one was standing on the platform at the time, but the injured worker was on the ground nearby.
The company pleaded guilty to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by failing to ensure the safety of its employees. It was fined £7,000 and ordered to pay £3,566 in prosecution costs.
According to the latest figures, nearly 4,000 people suffered a major injury while working in the manufacturing industry in Great Britain in 2010/11 and 27 lost their lives.
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