A WOOLSTON company has been fined £150,000 and ordered to pay costs of more than £24,000 after one of its forklift truck drivers was crushed to death.

MB Plastics Ltd of Forward Works pleaded guilty to an offence under health and safety legislation at Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday.

Cheadle Hulme company, Birse Integrated Solutions Ltd, principal contractors for the project at the Davyhulme Waste Water Treatment Works where the incident happened on September 18, 2003, also pleaded guilty and was fined £50,000 as well as being ordered to pay costs of more than £41,000.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned of the danger of not maintaining equipment after the court heard the forklift truck’s off-side cab window, which normally acted as a guard, was missing after being damaged five weeks before.

Judge Peter Lakin said although there were no witnesses to the incident, the most likely explanation is that the man, who was not identified, leant out of the cab window and came into contact with the joystick, bringing the arm of the forklift truck down on to him.

HSE Inspector Warren Pennington said: “This incident would have been entirely avoidable if the proper health and safety procedures had been followed.

“MB Plastics Ltd did not have a system in place for formal regular inspections of the plant. The company failed to maintain the cab window which could have saved this man’s life.

“This incident emphasises how important it is that companies should not only ensure they have the proper procedures in place but also ensure they are followed.

“We’re therefore calling on employers to take their responsibilities seriously so that future tragedies can be avoided.”

Judge Lakin said MB had failed its employees.

He said: “MB had primary responsibility for the welfare of its employees.

“The harsh reality of this case is that, in relation to this contract, MB completely failed to have any proper regard to their health and safety obligations.

“This directly led to the development of an unsafe and sloppy system of work.

“As a result MB’s workforce was exposed to completely unnecessary and avoidable risk.”