Costain and Galliford Try have both been fined £2.8 million after a worker's foot became trapped during upgrade works to a water treatment pant in Cheshire.

Both companies were found guilty of breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and fined £1.4 million each, with over £101,046 in costs.

Liverpool Crown Court heard how Costain and Galliford Try Building were upgrading the water facility on 05 March 2015. During commissioning work, a worker's foot became trapped in a large rotating screw, leading to the amputation of three toes.

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A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that both companies had failed to properly plan and manage the commissioning work.

Speaking after the case, HSE inspector David Argument said: "This injury was easily preventable. The commissioning work should have been properly planned and managed.

"Employers should make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise the risk posed by dangerous parts of machinery."

(LM/MH)