A building contractor has been fined after a shard of metal hit an employee in the eye and caused permanent damage.

Steele & Bray Limited, of Moore Street, Kingsley, Northampton, pleaded guilty to an offence under Regulation 4(1) of the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992.

The firm was fined £6,500 with over £898 in costs at Luton Magistrates' Court.

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The court heard how the employee was injured during the incident on 15 November 2013.

A work colleague was operating a nail gun to fasten a piece of timber to a steel lintel when a shard of metal hit the victim in the eye.

The court heard if the employee had been wearing the correct eye-protection, the incident could have been avoided.

In addition, the court also heard the eye-protection being worn by the nail gun operator was not suitable due to them being lightweight 'spectacle' types rather than impact absorbing 'goggles'.

(LM/CD)