An engineering company has been fined after a worker suffered serious injuries during a lifting operation in Milton Keynes.

GEA Mechanical Equipment (UK) Limited, of Westfalia House, Wolverton Road, Old Wolverton, Milton Keynes, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined £75,000 with £15,831 in costs.

Aylesbury Crown Court heard how workers at GEA were attempting to lift a 900kg decanter scroll back into its mobile trailer following a service in the workshop on 29 January 2015.

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However the workers struggled to manoeuvre the device far enough into the trailer and asked an employee from the office staff for help.

Ralph Jago, a 47-year-old technical support advisor, went to provide assistance. During an attempt to lift the decanter, it slid forward and trapped Mr Jago's right leg against metal racking. He was trapped for an hour and a half before fire and rescue services were able to free him. His injuries included fractures to his right leg which required metal rods and pins to be inserted.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found GEA had failed to ensure staff were suitably trained and competent to plan and carry out a lift of this complexity.

(LM/CD)