Manchester Magistrates Court heard how on Thursday 2 November 2017 a worker contracted by Bradley Demolition Ltd was accessing the underside of the roof in Bredbury to remove asbestos sheets and was trapped by his neck between the basket of the machine and a roof truss.

As a result of the incident the operator suffered life changing injuries which will require lifelong care.

An HSE investigation found that the vehicle was not suitable for the work undertaken and that it was not fitted with propriety devices to avoid the likelihood of operators being crushed.

The risk assessment did not sufficiently identify the entrapment hazard, and there was no effective communication with banksmen on the ground.

An inadequate plan led to the operator being trapped for a sustained period of time.

Bradley Demolition Ltd of Preston pleaded guilty to safety breaches and was fined £200,000 and ordered to pay costs of £21,838.56.

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector David Argument said: “If a suitable safe system of work had been in place prior to the incident, the life changing injuries sustained by the employee could have been prevented.”