A MACHINERY company told to pay £750,000 after a worker was blinded in one eye by an exploding tyre has seen its fine dramatically slashed.

Ernest Doe & Sons, based on Maldon Road, Ulting, was handed the draconian fine last November after admitting an offence under the Health & Safety at Work Act.

Employee John Albone was re-fitting and re-inflating tyres in December 2014 when one exploded.

He lost sight in one eye and suffered severe head and face injuries.

A Health and Safety Executive investigation found the firm had failed to identify unsafe working practices and ensure instruction, training and supervision was provided to its tyre technicians.

Speaking after the initial hearing, Principal Inspector Norman Macritchie said: “This type of regrettable incident was entirely foreseeable considering the evidently unsafe working practices undertaken at the depot.

“A worker sustained serious and life-changing injuries which could easily have proven fatal."

Ernest Doe was fined £750,000 and told to pay more than £9,000 in prosecutions and a victim surcharge. However, last Tuesday the Court of Appeal agreed the fine was excessive and reduced it to £100,000. The company is still required to pay the victim surcharge and prosecution costs.

Colin Doe, managing director, said: “The HSE were successful in prosecuting us in relation to a tyre shop accident in December 2014.

“The company was fined £750,000 which was far in excess of what could be expected for a case of this type, so an appeal was lodged immediately.

“On Tuesday July 12, the appeal was heard at the Royal Courts of Justice and the fine was reduced to £100,000, which is more in line with what we were originally expecting.”