Barnsley bus firm fined over worker's injury at garage
A bus firm has been fined after a teenage apprentice was injured by a bus while he was carrying out repairs.
Barnsley Magistrates' Court heard that Ben Burgin became trapped under the 14 tonne bus when its air suspension failed.
He needed surgery to his nose and eye socket following the incident, which took place at Stagecoach Yorkshire's Barnsley garage in September 2009.
Stagecoach Yorkshire pleaded guilty to two health and safety offences.
The firm was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay £8,473 in costs.
Dropped on him
The court heard Mr Burgin, who was aged 17 when the accident happened, was working alongside an experienced fitter to correct a braking fault on a bus fitted with an air suspension system.
Rather than moving the bus over an inspection pit, they attempted to fix the fault with the bus still on the garage floor.
Mr Burgin slid beneath the bus near the front passenger wheel and was making adjustments when the air suspension failed suddenly and the bus dropped on him, badly injuring his face.
He was freed when another worker rushed to help and they were able to raise the bus sufficiently to get him out.
The incident was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which brought the prosecution against the operator's owners, Yorkshire Traction Company Ltd of Stockport, Cheshire.
HSE Inspector Steve Kay, who investigated the case, said: "Thankfully Ben has been able to return to work but he had a painful recovery after suffering a totally needless ordeal.
"When employing young people, it is crucial that firms take particular account of their obvious lack of experience and lack of awareness of risks."