Firm fined as man crushed by three tonne road roller

Fire engines at Brow Mills Industrial Estate, Hipperholme.

The incident occurred in November 2013 at Quantum Exhibitions & Displays Ltd in Brow Mills Industrial Estate, Hipperholme.

The 26-year-old injured worker sustained several breaks to his right leg tibia and fibula bones along with burns to his right hand and an open fracture of the index finger on the same hand when the three tonne vibrating road roller he was using slid down a steep incline and pinned him beneath it.

Quantum Exhibitions and Displays Ltd of Brow Mills Industrial estate, Hipperholme pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £70,000 with £4,139.50 costs by Bradford Court.

After the hearing, Health and Safety Executive inspector Jacqueline Ferguson said: “There was no vehicle restraint or edge protection system in place to prevent vehicles from approaching the unstable edge of the embankment with the foreseeable risk of the vehicle overturning.

“This was a serious accident that could have proved fatal.

“Companies should be aware that the HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate action against those that fall below the required standards.”

Fire crews, police, medics and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance were called to the accident in Hipperholme.

It took the emergency services around an hour to free the injured worker at the rear of the business premises and the rescue was complicated by steep banking leading to the scene.

Firefighters from the former Brighouse station, Cleckheaton and Halifax attended along with specialist experts.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance attended but the victim - who remained conscious throughout the ordeal - was transported to hospital by road ambulance.

Rescuers used a crane from nearby site had to lift the roller off the labourer.

As it was lifted away blocks were used to protect the casualty.

Quantum Exhibitions is a custom exhibition stand designer and exhibition stand contractor operating in the UK and worldwide with many years’ experience creating bespoke exhibition stands.