Three companies have been prosecuted after a worker was crushed by part of a conveyor at a Sleaford plant.

The incident, which happened in February 2013 during the construction of a renewable energy plant in Sleaford, saw the worker crushed when a conveyor section weighing nearly 4.5 tonnes overturned during installation.

Lancashire-based Michael Doyle, a 49-year-old employee of Shaw Group UK Ltd in Derby was trapped in the incident and suffered a number of injuries including four cracked vertebrae, a punctured lung, broken ribs and a broken ankle. He hasn’t returned to work since the incident.

Earlier this month (12th March), Lincoln Magistrates’ Court heard that Mr Doyle’s employer had been subcontracted by Burmeister and Wain Energy (BWE) to install a boiler and its associated equipment, including the conveyor system used to carry large straw bales.

BWE, along Burmeister and Wain Scandinavian Contractor, also known as BWSC (another Danish company) had formed a consortium in which to design and build the centre. Shaw Group UK Ltd had lifted three conveyor sections on to the slope already, which led up to the boiler. It had been craning them onto a platform at the bottom of the slope and skates had been bolted to the front and back legs. This helped to keep the section of conveyor in question on rails when it was being dragged up the slope by manual winches which were set up at the top. Workers needed to remove the skates to fix the sections of conveyor in place and to do this, they used jacks to raise the legs and take the skates off. They would then lower the legs down onto the rail.

Although this was successfully carried out on the first three sections, as the jacks were released for the fourth and final sections one side lowered quicker than the other. The conveyor swung towards two of the workers and then began swinging violently the other way, subsequently turning on its side and trapping Mr Doyle underneath.

An investigation was launched by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which found that there had been safety failings by all three companies. Although it had produced a risk assessment along with a plan for the installation, Shaw Group UK Ltd did not consider the removal of the skates from the legs or the manual winches at the top of the slope. This had been sent to BWE for to check through but the firm did not pick up on the omission and BWSC, the investigation found, failed to ensure work was being properly assessed and co-ordinated between the large number of contractors on site; a key responsibility of the firm in its role as principal contractor.

Shaw Group UK Ltd was fined £17,350 for the incident along with £1,710 in costs after it pleaded guilty to breaching the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 and the Construction (Design and Management ) Regulations 2007. Burmeister and Wain Scandinavian Contractor was fined £4,670 together with costs of £1,710 after it pleaded guilty to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and Burmeister and Wain Energy was fined £5,350 along with costs of £1,710 after it admitted to breaching the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007.