A STEEL fabrication firm behind some of Britain's most famous buildings is facing a fine of up to £500,000 over alleged safety breaches linked to a man being killed under a forklift truck.

Severfield (UK) Ltd, which is based at Dalton Airfield Industrial Estate, near Thirsk, appeared before Northallerton Magistrates Court charged with failing in its general duty towards an employee, under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

The court heard the alleged offence related to an incident in which Kelvin McGibbon, of Hilton Close, Brompton, Northallerton, was killed when the forklift truck he was reversing tipped over at the 55-acre plant and he became trapped underneath on March 13, 2013.

The 27-year-old Manchester United fan was airlifted to hospital by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, but died of shock and internal bleeding following a crush injury and a fractured pelvis.

After the incident, a spokesman for Severfield said its staff were in a state of shock and that Mr McGibbon had been "a much loved and valuable member" of the company.

Friends of Mr McGibbon have since raised more than £9,000 in his memory for the air ambulance and his girlfriend, Melissa Watson, will hold a 70-mile sponsored bike ride starting from Northallerton on Sunday (May 17), four days after what would have been his 30th birthday.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) alleges the firm failed to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of all its employees, including Mr McGibbon, by failing to provide and maintain a system of work for the operation of forklift trucks that was safe and without risks to health.

Severfield, which is among North Yorkshire's biggest private sector employers with about 700 staff, produces around 3,200 tonnes of steel a week at the plant.

The firm, which has provided the structures for the Millennium Bridge in Gateshead, the 2012 Olympic Stadium, the Wimbledon Centre Court roof, Cleveland Energy from Waste Plant, the Shard skyscraper and the Tate Modern, did not enter a plea.

Magistrates agreed with solicitors for the HSE and Severfield that the matter should be sent to Teesside Crown Court for a preliminary hearing later this month as the range of fines the firm faced if found guilty of the offence ranged from £100,000 to £500,000, above the maximum £20,000 fine magistrates could give.