A COMPANY has been fined £8,000 for failing to ensure the safety of a worker who was said to be lucky to be alive after an accident.

Bruce Thompson was seriously injured when he fell from a platform and accidentally fired a shot blaster machine at himself while working at Cleveland Bridge UK, in Darlington.

The 46-year-old, from Darlington, was so badly hurt in the accident, in October last year, that doctors said he was fortunate to recover.

Yesterday, the firm admitted breaching health and safety guidelines at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court, in County Durham.

The court was told the firm failed to provide adequate guard rails around a scaffold tower where shot blast operatives worked and that the raised platform was too small.

David Shallow, from the Health and Safety Executive, said: "Because safety measures fell below required standards, substantial injuries occurred and it is regarded as fortunate that Mr Thompson has survived."

Colin McCaul, on behalf of Cleveland Bridge, said: "The company greatly regrets this breach and regrets very much that one of its employees has been seriously injured.

"It has remedied the breach and gives its assurance that this will be the first and last breach of health and safety regulations."

Magistrates fined the company £8,000 and ordered that it pay £1,036 for legal costs.

Alex Spurr, of Hewitts Solicitors, said Mr Thompson was still recovering and was considering civil proceedings.

The prosecution came on the day that an investigation got under way after two Cleveland Bridge workers at the new Wembley Stadium were injured in a crane accident.

The men were taken to Central Middlesex Hospital after a cage they were in, attached to a crane, dropped about 13ft.

The Health and Safety Executive has launched an investigation into the accident, on Monday, as has Multiplex, the company responsible for the site.

One of the men had a suspected broken ankle and the other suffered minor injuries. The first was treated at the scene with oxygen and given a neckbrace as a precaution.