A contract gardening company has been fined for safety failings that led to a worker sustaining serious crush injuries to his chest.

Derby Magistrates’ Court heard how, on June 19, 2014, an employee of A Hydes (trading as Woodland Landscapes) was seriously injury when a van slipped off a trolley jack and fell onto an employee whilst he was underneath it.

Peter Cooper of Trowell, Nottingham, suffered severe crush injuries to his chest, 10 broken ribs a broken collar bone and sternum, and a punctured right lung. He has not been able to work since the incident.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), prosecuting said Cooper was checking the vehicle for a fault but the company had not assessed the risks from this work or put in place a safe system of work.

In addition, the yard surface being used did not comply with HSE guidance for surfaces where work under vehicles is required.

A Hydes of Clinton Avenue, Nottingham, was fined a total of £12,000 and ordered to pay £5,738 in costs after pleading guilty to an offence under Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

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