A WORKER at Tarmac's Banksfield Quarry in Clitheroe was lucky to survive after being crushed by the mini digger he was operating.

Blackburn magistrates heard that the accident would not have happened if the cab of the vehicle - a vital safety feature - had not been removed to enable the machine to work closer to plant and fit through doors.

Ironically, the accident which nearly killed Michael Creighton happened just days before the company hosted a safety open day in conjunction with the Health and Safety Executive.

Tarmac Heavy Building Materials UK Ltd, of Wolverhampton, pleaded guilty to an offence brought by the Health and Safety Executive of breaching their general duty towards an employee. The company was fined £12,500 with £1,900 costs.

Mark Lenderyou, prosecuting, said details of the accident were vague because Mr Creighton, who received crush injuries to his chest and head and burns to his shoulder, had no recollection of what happened and there were no other witnesses.

The digger had been on lease to Tarmac for a number of years and maintenance had been supervised by a Mr Jennings who was instructed to remove first the cab and then the canopy.

Mr Lenderyou said: "Tragically, Mr Jennings died of cancer and it has not been possible to identify who instructed him to remove the cab and the canopy."

Andrew Cox, defending, said the machine had not be used since.

"It is not a case where a short cut has been taken for financial gain," he said.

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