Manchester Crown Court has fined Preston-based demolition company JW Ousby and Sons £15,000 (approx. $30,000 US) after two of its workers were seriously injured when a floor they were working on collapsed.

Anthony Hartley from Blackburn and Kevin Waller from Preston fell four metres when an internal concrete mezzanine floor at the former BAE Ordnance site on Hercules Business Park, Lostock, Bolton, gave way on 23 October 2002. They were working on the floor at the same time that demolition was being carried out by heavy machinery.

The company, of Singletons Cottage, Lord Lane, Penwortham, Preston were found guilty of two charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) under Section 2(1) for failing to provide a safe system of work or provide employees sufficient information, instruction and supervision for safe demolition.

The Health and Safety Executive's principal inspector for Greater Manchester, Anna Bliss, said: "Ousbys were working to prepare the building at the BAE Ordnance site, Lostock, for conversion to a superstore. An internal concrete mezzanine floor was being demolished with a heavy-duty machine that can demolish the structure from a distance.

"This is a safe method of working so long as it is properly planned; the planned sequence of work takes account of the effects on the stability of the structure; and personnel are excluded from the vicinity of the work. This accident occurred because J W Ousby & Sons failed on all three of these points," she added.

Neither Hartley nor Waller have been able to work since the accident.