A COMPANY has been fined after a worker was struck in the head by a piece of equipment.

Oldham Council handed out a £130,000 punishment to retail firm Shop Direct, over the incident on January 16 2018 at its distribution centre, in Linney Lane, Shaw.

The agency worker was walking under an area where maintenance was being carried out when she was hit in the head by a 1.8kg conveyor roller, which fell from nearly a metre above.

The 33-year-old mother of one was knocked unconscious and suffered a concussion which required hospital treatment. The injury to her head left her in considerable discomfort and unable to work for weeks.

An investigation by Oldham Council found that Shop Direct failed to prevent people from walking beneath areas where maintenance work was taking place and had not controlled the risk of falling objects.

On Tuesday, July 8 representatives from the company pleaded guilty to charges against the Health and Safety Act at Manchester Magistrates’ Court.

As well as the fine, the company was ordered to pay £8,157 in costs, with a victim surcharge of £170.

Cllr Ateeque Ur Rehman, Oldham Council's cabinet member for neighbourhood services, said: “No one should go to work and suffer an injury.

“This case highlights the need for businesses to ensure that they provide a safe environment for their workers and that all possible steps are taken to make sure this happens.

“We’ll take action against any company where better work practices would have prevented injury.”