Don-Bur has been fined £14,000 after a worker was crushed when a tuck-away tail-lift closed on him.
In a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecution, Stafford Magistrates' Court was told how agency worker Mark Dimmock, 28, had been working underneath a lorry to fit the tail-lift, at the trailer manufacturer's site in Mossfield Road, Stoke-on-Trent, in June 2011.
The court heard that, due to a mistake in the wiring, the lift had been directly connected to the vehicle's motor.
This meant that when other employees turned on a portable power supply to fit electrical components to the vehicle, the lift began to close in on him.
Dimmock, who had only been working for Don-Bur for one week, suffered internal bleeding, two crushed vertebrae and had to undergo surgery to remove part of his bowel.
He has been able to return to work on short temporary contracts following the incident but can only perform light duties.
The HSE investigation found that Don-Bur had failed to formally plan the work, undertake a risk assessment, ensure suitable systems of work were in place or provide suitable training or instructions.
Don-Bur pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and was also ordered to pay costs of £4,233.
A statement from Don-Bur said: "We can confirm there was an incident last year which regrettably caused some injuries to a worker. The case has now been resolved. Don-Bur retain one of the best health and safety records in the industry."
