A company has been fined £4m after a worker suffered life-changing brain and spinal injuries that left him unable to communicate and now living in a care home with round-the-clock care.

The 40-year-old, from Telford, was crushed by a 231kg (36 stone) forklift load while working at City Electrical Factors Limited's Proteus Switchgear division in Stafford Park in October 2024.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said the load fell from a forklift truck while heavy equipment was being loaded on to a lorry.

The firm admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act and was fined £4m at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Friday. The company was also ordered to pay £6,304 in costs.

An investigation found the lifting operation had not been properly planned or supervised, despite it being a regular activity.

The HSE said the man had been acting as a spotter when the unsecured load fell on top of him.

Investigators found there had been no risk assessment or lift plan, and employees had not been provided with information or instructions about the lifting operation.

They also found it would have been possible to secure the load to the forklift or use a crane attached to the lorry. Instead, employees were expected to steady loads while they were being lifted.

HSE inspector Keeley Eves said the injuries were "completely avoidable" and caused by "a failure to properly plan for the job taking place".

She said safer methods of moving the load had been available but "the employee was placed at unnecessary risk and now has to live with his devastating injuries".

Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.