Redworth Construction Ltd of Malton, North Yorkshire, has been fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,321 by Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court.

The company pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 after an incident in Billy Row, Crook on 23 April 2007.

A bricklayer suffered serious injuries to his lower leg after he was struck by an excavator whilst working. Upon investigation HSE Inspectors found there was no segregation between pedestrians and vehicles on site and a lack of adequate traffic management.

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HM Inspector of Health and Safety, Carol Forster, said: "One of the biggest causes of workplace incidents is people being struck by vehicles. It is the second most common kind of fatal and serious incident in construction.

"Any incident has serious implications for the individuals concerned and their families, and is also a major cost to employers too. Simple precautions could have stopped this incident occurring in the first place and prevented this worker being needlessly injured."

(CD)