A STEEL firm has been fined £130,000 after cages weighing more than 1,000kg fell onto a worker’s leg, causing serious injuries which needed reconstructive surgery.

An employee at Lemon Groundwork Solutions Limited was using a gantry crane to lift a steel cage from a stack at the company's site in Wickford when two cages at the bottom rolled onto his left foot and leg.

The worker suffered a fractured tibia and fibula bones.

As a result, he had to undergo reconstructive surgery where metal rods, plates and pins were inserted into his leg.

In a probe by the Health and Safety Executive, inspectors found prior to the incident, the company had failed to implement a safe system of work for storing cages and had not provided their employees with sufficient information, instruction, training and supervision to store and handle cages safely.

Inspectors also said the company had failed to determine the maximum height the cages could be stacked and suitable means to secure the cages to prevent movement and collapse.

The incident happened in November 2017 and last week the firm, which admitted breaching health and safety at work regulations, was fined £130,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,589.99.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Eleanor Kinman said: “This incident could easily have been prevented if the company had adopted safe control measures for storing and handling cages, and adequately supervised the task.”

“Companies should be aware of the risks of handling metal stock, and that it should always be stored and stacked so it is not likely to move, fall and cause injury.”

It is not the first time the firm has been in court.

It had previously been served Improvement Notices by the HSE regarding its lifting operations and the management of vehicles and pedestrians in its yard.

In November 2018, the company was fined £100,000 for breaching health and safety at work regulations after an employee was struck by a bundle of steel bars which fell off a forklift, causing multiple fractures to his leg in 2016.

A spokesman for Lemon Groundwork Solutions Ltd said: "The company was devastated by the injuries sustained by the employee in the accident on 22nd November 2017 and supported his rehabilitation back to full duties.

"The company takes the safety and welfare of employees very seriously and acted promptly following the accident to implement a new method for storage of the cages to ensure future safety.

"The management of the company is fully committed to continual improvement of health and safety procedures and following a full review of existing arrangements has made significant investment in that area."