A BUS company has been fined £380,000 after one of its employees was crushed between a reversing bus and a stationary vehicle.

The employee of Stagecoach Devon Limited was working at the company’s Torquay depot on the morning of 3 October 2019.

Due to space limitations, buses often had to reverse to be able to leave the depot in readiness for the day’s work.

The sole banksman, who would direct vehicles, was occupied at the top of the depot where most buses were parked.

As a result, it became custom and practice for the bus drivers at the front of the depot to reverse without a banksman, or to assist each other when reversing, despite not being trained as banksmen.

The injured employee, who was caught between a reversing bus and a stationary vehicle, suffered compound multiple fractures of his arm requiring six titanium plates and 65 metal staples between his wrist and elbow.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Stagecoach Devon Limited failed to put a suitable and sufficient risk assessment in place.

This should have identified the risks inherent in the bus parking layout and action could have been taken to remove the need to reverse or mitigate the risks from reversing.

For example, changing the parking layout, providing a sufficient number of trained banksmen for peak times, and improved segregation of vehicles and pedestrians.

At Plymouth Magistrates Court Stagecoach Devon Limited of One Stockport Exchange, 20 Railway Road, Stockport, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.  The company was fined £380,000 and ordered to pay costs of £18,000.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector James Collins said: ‘Those in control of work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working and to provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers in the safe system of work.

‘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.’

A spokesperson for Stagecoach Devon Limited said: ‘Safety is our absolute priority and our thoughts continue to be with our former employee, David Heathfield, who was injured in the accident at Torquay depot in October 2019.

‘We are deeply sorry for what happened and today we have taken the earliest opportunity to formally accept the charge brought against the company.

‘Since the accident, we have assisted the Health and Safety Executive in its investigation in any way that we can, and we have fully implemented improvements.

‘We will continue to take steps necessary to protect the health and safety of our people.’

Barry West, regional organiser for RMT, said: ‘Today marked a significant milestone in the campaign for justice for former Stagecoach Bus driver David Heathfield. Who was crushed by a reversing bus.

‘He was seriously injured in what can only be best described as an accident waiting to happen.

‘He was not the only victim that day, but the driver was adversely affected emotionally and mentally.

‘It was clear to all who know Dave that he was a loyal and hard working employee who has had his life prematurely put on hold and his career ended abruptly.’

‘Lessons must be learned and actions taken.’