AN Evesham produce packing firm has been fined £10,000 following an accident in which a man suffered fractured ribs and internal injuries.

The fine, plus costs of £1,635, were imposed on Primafruit at Worcester magistrates court last Friday.

The prosecution against the company, which is based in Enterprise Way on Vale Park, was brought under health and safety at work legislation. Primafruit pleaded guilty to the charge.

The accident happened when warehouse operative Neville Langstone fell six feet from a sea freight container he was unloading with a hand pump pallet truck on February 7, 2002.

Following the case, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector, Faye Wingfield, said Primafruit had carried out modifications to its workplace to prevent any similar accident happening in the future.

She added: "Falls from height are the most common cause of workplace fatalities and the second most common cause of major injuries.

"What the HSE is looking for is that employers have identified the activities and practices that have the potential to cause falls from height and use and maintain the appropriate equipment."

Operations director at Primafruit, Sean Foy said: "We were all gutted when the accident happened to Neville.

"It was totally unforeseen by our safety team, but we immediately took steps to stop it ever happening again.

The magistrates took account of that and the way we have supported Neville, who was off for several weeks, by halving the amount of fine which could have been imposed."