Driver's anger at 'pittance' of a fine

A man from South Staffordshire who broke his back in a work accident has spoken out after the firm involved was ordered to pay £18,000.

Lorry driver Colin Ball was injured when a pile of insulating board fell on him. He says his life will never be the same, and has described a fine handed out to the company involved as "a pittance".

Mr Ball may not be fit enough to return to work and is facing months of painstaking rehabilitation after he was crushed making a delivery to foam manufacturer Recticel Ltd. The firm, of Alfreton in Derbyshire, admitted health and safety breaches.

Father-of-five Mr Ball, from Codsall had been delivering insulation board to Recticel's warehouse on October 21 last year when a separate stack toppled onto him and knocked him back into his trailer.

"I had been sent up with a load of insulation board to Recticel in Stoke-on-Trent," he said. "I reversed into the warehouse and went to the off side of the truck to undo the curtain. I was just loosening the straps. I don't remember anything after that."

Mr Ball had been knocked unconscious, suffering a fractured skull and broken back in three places. He spent two weeks in a coma. He experiences short term memory loss, is almost housebound as he feels too vulnerable to leave his home alone, and needs his wife Maggie's help washing, dressing and getting into bed. A preliminary six-week course of rehabilitation for his injuries is due to start soon, but doctors say he may never work again.

"I used to go swimming regularly, take our three dogs walking, sort the garden out and do my bit around the house," he said. "Now I have difficulty even making myself a drink."

Mr Ball earned £15,500 a year, but now makes around half that through benefits claims, meaning he and his second wife Maggie rely on her wage as an administrator. The couple had married just six months before he was injured. Recticel was fined this week following a hearing before magistrates at Newcastle-under-Lyme. The Health and Safety Executive said the accident could have been "easily prevented".

The company was fined £6,238 and ordered to pay £11,762 costs after admitting breaching health and safety legislation at its premises at Enterprise Way, Meir Park, Stoke-on-Trent.

The firm issued a statement saying: "Firstly, we wish to express our deep regret for this incident and convey our sincere best wishes to Mr Ball and his family. The company accepts the court's decision and has co-operated fully with the HSE throughout its investigations in this matter.

"The company has implemented further controls following a substantive review and remains committed to ensuring the health and safety of both its employees and the public."