A COMPANY has been fined £14,000 after a worker's leg was crushed beneath a three-and-a-half tonne weight.

Chrome producer Elementis Chromium, which was twice given a Queen's Award for enterprise and export, was also ordered to pay £5,510 costs by Teesside Magistrates.

Mechanical technician Paul Young does not know whether he will regain the full use of his right leg.

The accident happened last October, and the father-of-two, from Norton, Stockton, who had to undergo an arterial graft on his knee, may still face nerve grafts.

Mr Young was one of five people asked to overhaul a thrust roller on a kiln at the Eaglescliffe works.

Health and Safety Executive solicitor Alison Laws said: "To replace the thrust roller, it has to be moved out from under the kiln."

A crane's jib was used as an anchor, the head of the crane pulled downwards because of the weight of the roller, which stuck fast.

To free the roller, a technician working with Mr Young used a sledgehammer, but there was no movement.

Mr Young swung a sledgehammer on his side of the roller, which sprang forward.

The sudden momentum caused him to stumble and became trapped.

Elementis yesterday pleaded guilty to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Magistrate Ken Bibby said: "We do view this matter very seriously indeed.

"It was an unsafe method of working. There was no risk assessment and it resulted in some serious injury."

Mr Bibby said the company had a well established safety culture, had taken significant steps following the accident and had entered an early guilty plea.

Company director David Raw said after the case: "We co-operated fully with the HSE throughout their investigation.

"Elementis Chromium has implemented a number of changes to prevent any repeat and despite this one regrettable incident, the site's safety performance has been continuously improving."

Mr Young said afterwards: "I am glad it is over and there are going to be lessons learned from it.

"Just as long as it does not happen to anyone else."