AN Uxbridge building supplies firm was ordered to pay more than £82,000 for failing to ensure the health and safety of a delivery driver crushed by some wooden decking.

The judgment at Uxbridge Magistrates Court on Tuesday was in a case bought by Hillingdon Council.

In April 2017, a driver delivered a load of timber decking boards to Crescent Building Supplies at its branch in Longbridge Way.

A forklift, being used by a Crescent employee to unload the wood, tipped forward under the weight of its load, causing the wood to topple and trap the lorry driver.

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He sustained long-term injuries to his shoulders, back, hip and leg, some of which required surgery.

Environmental health officers later found the weight of the decking under which the driver was crushed - approximately three tons - exceeded the safe lifting capacity of both forklifts on site.

Crescent were fined £60,000 and ordered to pay £22,015.14 in costs this week. They must also pay a victim surcharge of £150. The company had previously admitted breaching health and safety regulations.

Cllr Douglas Mills, Cabinet Member for Community, Commerce and Regeneration, said: “There cannot be a more powerful reminder of the need to stick to the law. We will never hesitate to prosecute in circumstances like this.”