A MULTINATIONAL animal feeds firm has been fined £10,000 after a visitor to one of its factories was run over by a heavy goods vehicle.

Northallerton Magistrates Court heard Michael Armitage and Simon Manock had been able to enter a high-risk area at the AB Agri ABN plant in Darlington Road, Northallerton, when the incident happened on February 24, 2014.

Both men, who were employed by York-based Iain Scott Fabrications Ltd to carry out plant installation work at the site, were struck by a reversing heavy goods vehicle in the rear yard area near good intake building.

Mr Armitage was knocked to the ground and run over by the rear wheels of the trailer and suffered serious and multiple injuries to his arms torso and pelvis, which led to him undergoing several operations.

The court was told Mr Armitage had not yet recovered and was still off work, while Mr Manock had sustained minor cuts and bruising.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said the firm, which employs more than 3,000 people in the UK and overseas and sells products and services in more than 70 countries, was responsible for serious safety failings.

HSE inspector Geoff Fletcher, said the incident could have been easily prevented if the firm had put in place a safe system for preventing pedestrians and equipment from coming into contact with each other.

He said: "This could easily have had tragic consequences.”

AB Agri, which claims to be the leading British manufacturer of pig and poultry compound feed, pleaded guilty to breaching two sections of the Health and Safety at Work Act and was also ordered to pay £1,239 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching two sections of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Since the incident, the firm has introduced physical barriers, no pedestrian areas, identified a reversing zone and improved training instruction and supervision for all on the site.

A spokesman for the firm said: “The company wishes to express its sincere regret for the injuries caused to Mr Armitage and Mr Manock, and in pleading guilty, acknowledges that on this occasion the it did not meet the high standards it sets for itself.

"The company has also been providing all possible support it can to Mr Armitage and Mr Manock, and their respective families.

"AB Agri accepts the penalty imposed and shall not be appealing the outcome.”