A CONSTRUCTION firm must pay out more than £26,000 in legal fees after a worker was crushed by a roof truss.

JWB (Mersea) Ltd were building a timber frame chalet-style bungalow in East Mersea where the parts of the roof were being moved in packs rather than individually.

A stack of them toppled over while being moved by a crane.

A worker was badly hurt in the accident.

A Health and Safety Executive investigation was launched and found that scaffolding was not installed around and within the building to enable workers to be safe.

The watchdog also found moving them in packs created a risk which was not sufficiently managed and that the company and those in charged failed to plan, manage and monitor the work under their control.

JWB (Mersea) Ltd of Westwood Drive, West Mersea, admitted breaching regulation 13(1) of The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.

The company was fined £1,000.

Company director and owner, Jason Whiting, 54, and of the same address, admitted breaching Section 37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The six month jail term he was handed at Chelmsford Crown Court was suspended for two years.

Whiting must complete 240 hours of unpaid work and pay the HSE full costs which came to £25,627.32.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector David King, said the accident could have been prevented.

“Lifting the roof trusses individually and securing them permanently could have prevented this accident," he said.

"HSE is keen to increase awareness of the need to plan, manage and monitor construction work and ensure the health and safety of construction workers.

"HSE will take enforcement action if companies do not manage health and safety on their sites, including directors"