Accident could have been fatal

Tega (Hull) Ltd was charged with safety failures after an investigation into the incident in July 2011, in the run-up to the Classics in the Park festival, at Brantingham Park, Elloughton, near Hull.

The worker, 54, from Thorngumbald, suffered serious fractures to his lower left leg, which required surgery, and damaged vertebrae in his back.

The firm, formerly of Sculcoates Lane, admitted a health and safety breach at a magistrates’ hearing last year. But Hull Crown Court heard yesterday that the company had been dissolved at the start of the year and could not be sentenced.

The Health and Safety Executive told the court the worker was part of a team attempting to raise the first of four columns to support the stage roof. A forklift was to pull the column upright from its horizontal position on the stage while four workers pushed it from beneath. On the third attempt the truck slid backwards on wet grass and the column fell, hitting one of the men.

The HSE investigation found the firm did not have a safe system of work in place and had not properly planned the lifting operations. It failed to protect its own employees and those of a sub-contracted labouring team hired in from a local events company. HSE Inspector David Bradley said the accident could have been fatal.