Serious safety breaches including a forklift truck accident which broke a worker’s leg has cost an Enfield Lock packaging firm nearly £50,000.

Tri Star Packaging Supplies in Mollison Avenue allowed staff to ride the forks on the trucks to reach stock kept on high shelves, as well as standing on cages mounted on top of the forks.

But when it reported that a staff member had been pinned between two of the trucks in an accident in June 2009, breaking the worker's leg, Enfield Council health and safety officers investigated and found CCTV of the widespread practice.

At Wood Green Crown Court on Monday, the firm admitted to four breaches of the Health and Safety Work Act and fined £15,000, with costs of £32,592.

Cabinet member for environment, Councillor Chris Bond, said: “Companies have to understand that they cannot have a cavalier disregard for the safety of their staff and visitors to their premises.

“This was an appalling and entirely avoidable incident that resulted in the serious injury of a completely blameless member of staff.”