A WATER company was fined £50,000 yesterday when it accepted that its shortcomings had contributed to an accident in which one of its employees died.

Northumbrian Water was also ordered to pay £10,000 costs at Teesside Crown Court.

The company pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the safety of its employees in December 2000, when father-of-two David Mason died in the accident, in Brotton High Street, east Cleveland.

It also admitted a charge of failing to ensure the safety of the public, including coach driver Peter Jacklin, on the same day.

David Rowlands, prosecuting for the Health and Safety Executive, told the court that Mr Mason, 42, of Thornaby, died while helping to repair a burst water pipe in the High Street.

The "safety conscious" worker, who had been with the company for 12 years, was operating a lorry-mounted crane at roadworks.

Mr Rowlands said Mr Mason was scooping up rubble then swinging the crane across a lane of traffic, waiting for gaps into the flow, to dump the rubble in the back of the lorry.

The court heard that ten scoops had already safely been collected, with just one left to lift when the jib collided with a social services bus, driven by Mr Jacklin.

The jib smashed through the window of the bus and embedded in the roof, dragging the coach towards Mr Mason's cab and crushing him to death.

Mr Rowlands said there were measures which Northumbrian Water could have taken to help avoid the accident and said it was responsible for the dangerous system of work which was being applied, through lack of correct supervision and training.

He said Mr Mason had not been properly trained that his lorry could be used in a different way, and the crane did not have had to swing on to the road.

Keith Morton, for Northumbrian Water, said the company apologised on behalf of the company to Mr Mason's family and expressed its sorrow and regret. It also apologised to Mr Jacklin, who has been unable to return to work following the traumatic experience.

He said the accident happened because of the "shortcomings in the training and supervision" of Mr Mason and that the company accepted responsibility.

He said improvements had been made to training and supervision and said health and safety was given top priority. He said the company had no previous convictions and a good safety record.