A plant hire company based in Leicestershire has been fined after a worker was injured by a defective dumper truck.

JB Tool Hire Ltd of Hermitage Industrial Estate was found guilty by Derby Magistrates' Court to breaching Regulation 5(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. The company was fined £14,000 with £8199.74 costs.

The court heard that JB Tool Hire had hired out a dumper truck and excavator to a farmer near Hartshorne, Derbyshire.

On 28 August 2013 the farmer and a self-employed contractor, who has asked not to be named, was using the excavator to load the dumper, which was parked near the top of a slope.

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The contractor stood to one side while loading took place, but when it was about half full he noticed the truck starting to roll forward.

Subsequently, the contractor gave chase and tried to climb onto the vehicle to apply the footbrake.

As he did so, the steering column struck the excavator shovel, trapping his right leg against the driver’s seat.

The 50 year old of Coalville broke his leg, cut his shin and required a skin graft. He also suffered a blood clot and was unable to work for up to five months.

A HSE investigation found JB Tool Hire had checked both vehicles before they went out on hire. However, they failed to identify the dumper’s parking brake was faulty.

A replacement brake cable rectified the problem.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Edward Walker said: "This was a serious incident where someone was badly hurt.

"The faults with the parking brake should have been identified before it was sent out to a customer. Had this been done and the brake cable replaced, the incident would have been prevented."

Mr Walker also emphasised how important effective maintenance is to ensure that equipment works reliably, particularly with heavy plant vehicles.

(LM/CD)