An Aberdeenshire haulage firm was fined £20,000 after a worker was run over and severely injured.

Ian Mackie, 43, from Turriff, was one of a team of drivers who worked for a haulage yard run by R & J Milne Ltd in Norwood, Ardmiddle, Turriff.

On 12 November 2010, Mr Mackie was one of five drivers who had cleaned a tractor unit. He was talking to a colleague near the front of the vehicle when the driver climbed into his cab, started the vehicle and began to pull out of the wash bay.

The tractor unit knocked both men to the ground and a front wheel drove over Mr Mackie's foot and leg.

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Mr Mackie spent 13 weeks in hospital after the accident and had to have a metal plate put in his pelvis.

He suffered broken bones in his foot, a fractured pelvis and cracked ribs and still gets numbness and pain.

The second employee who was knocked over during the incident escaped physical injury.

Banff Sheriff Court heard last week that an investigation into the incident by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that there was no organised system to keep pedestrians safe from moving vehicles.

R & J Milne Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

After sentencing, HSE Inspector Joanne Nicholls said: "Ian Mackie suffered serious, life-changing injuries in an incident that could easily have been avoided. A safe system of work would have ensured that if pedestrians were present, vehicles would not be allowed to enter or move in the same area.

"As no such measures had been identified or implemented, two men's lives were needlessly put at risk."

(NE)