A FEARNHEAD construction company has been fined more than £1million after a worker lost three toes in an ‘easily preventable’ accident.

Galliford Try Building Limited, based on Crab Lane, and Costain Limited have each been fined £1.4m after being found guilty of health and safety breaches at Liverpool Crown Court.

The court heard that employee Peter Rowen’s foot was trapped in a large rotating screw while he was carrying out upgrades to a water treatment works in Tarporley in March 2015.

This accident led to him having three toes amputated.

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An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found that both companies ‘failed to properly plan and manage the commissioning work’.

HSE inspector David Argument said: “This injury was easily preventable.

“The commissioning work should have been properly planned and managed.

“Employers should make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise the risk posed by dangerous parts of machinery.”

In addition to the fines handed out to each, the firms were told to pay costs of £101,462.20.

A spokesman for Galliford Try said: “We have rigorous health and safety procedures and policies in place that are constantly being reviewed, and it is regrettable when any accident or incident occurs.

“We pass on our sympathies to Peter Rowen for the injuries he sustained and the impact this has had on him and his family.”

A spokesman for Costain added: “While we have stringent safety procedures, something clearly went wrong which resulted in the accident involving Peter Rowen.

“We deeply regret this – we offer our heartfelt sympathies to Peter for the impact his injuries have had on him and his family.”