KSMT has been fined £5000 and ordered to pay £500 in costs after metal sheets crashed through a karting track roof in the West Midlands.

A sub-contractor working on behalf of KSMT had lifted new metal roof sheets weighing three quarters of a tonne on to the kart track roof using the forks of a telehandler.

However, the sheets and one of the forks fell off and crashed through the existing corrugated roof.

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The debris came to rest on the lower section of the track, narrowly missing members of the public using the track.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the lifting operation had been poorly planned.

As the main contractor, the Barnsley-based company failed to assess the risks and produce a method statement or lift plan.

The company pleaded guilty to a breach of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998.

HSE Inspector Gareth Langston said: "This case shows the importance of properly planning lifting operations and highlights the duty of the principal contractor on a site to manage their subcontractors."

KSMT were also ordered to pay a £500 victim surcharge.

(LM)