A waste and recycling company has been prosecuted for safety failings after a worker was seriously injured when a vehicle reversed into him.

The 25-year-old, who has asked not be named, was working in a sorting shed at the company when the incident occurred.

He was sorting recyclable material by hand from the area where dry waste was deposited. A telescopic materials handler was being operated close by. As the driver of the vehicle carried out his operations, he reversed into the area where the other employee was working. The vehicle struck the employee and knocked him to the ground.

The worker suffered a broken shoulder, two fractured toe bones and a cracked rib. He was off work for several months but has since made a full recovery.

The company had failed to ensure that a safe system of work was in place for the hand sorting of recyclables near moving vehicles, despite the fact that this activity made up a substantial part of the company's daily undertaking.

The company was fined £3,350 and ordered to pay £3,528.70 in costs after pleading guilty.

Speaking after the case, HSE Inspector commented:

"The injured worker was lucky not to be killed as a result of this incident, which could have easily been avoided had the company implemented a safe system of work that segregated moving vehicles from pedestrians.’