A PEMBROKESHIRE construction contractor has been fined £2,000 by a court after a health and safety breach at a county tourist attraction that left him and another worker injured.

Richard Lynch, aged 41, of Hilton Court, Roch and another man were working to erect a geodesic dome at Manor House Wildlife Park, near Tenby, They were in a basket that fell off the forks of a telehandler as it was being lowered to the ground.

Lynch was knocked unconscious and the other man sustained serious injuries to his foot and ankle.

At Haverfordwest magistrate’s court last Tuesday (April 21), Lynch pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. In addition to the fine, he was ordered to pay £1,002.80 costs.

The prosecution was brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), whose investigation found that Lynch, who was in control of the work, had no training in the management of health and safety on construction sites.

He had not used a telehandler with a man basket before, and was unaware of the guidance setting out their safe use. He had not assessed the risks of using a telehandler, and used an untrained driver to operate it.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Phil Nicolle said: “This incident was entirely foreseeable and could have been prevented.

“If Richard Lynch had planned and managed the task properly and identified the risks, he would have been able to ensure suitable equipment was used, and safe procedures implemented.”

Following the case, Lynch told the Western Telegraph: "This was a freak accident. I have been driving a telehandler for years and have a totally clean record., but had just never used one before with a man basket.

"This prosecution has cost me around £9,500, as I also had to pay the HSE £6,500 for their investigation."