Kier Infrastructure has been fined £600,000 after a worker’s leg was crushed by a concrete block, leaving him with life-changing injuries.
The contractor had already pleaded guilty to one offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act earlier this month.
Newport Magistrates’ Court heard that a 6.93 tonne block of pre-cast concrete fell on agency worker Peter Walker, 42, on 15 August 2016.
Walker had started work at the Maerdy Bridge, Cardiff site, where Kier was principal contractor on a Network Rail project to build two bridges, a few days before the accident.
On the day of the accident the concrete units that would form the bridge were being relocated on the site. Walker was on a ladder removing lifting chains from a block when it toppled over and his leg was crushed between the fallen unit and the one behind it.
The Office of Rail and Road’s (ORR) investigation into the incident revealed that Walker’s injuries could have been prevented if Kier had provided adequate supervision for the job.
Ian Prosser, HM chief inspector of railways, said: "Mr Walker suffered devastating injuries in this incident and we are pleased that the severity of the sentence indicates how seriously it is taken by the court.
"We are absolutely committed to protecting the health and safety of workers and, as this prosecution demonstrates, we will not hesitate to take enforcement action when it is necessary."
