AN engineering company in Greenock has been fined £10,000 after a steel lathe crushed an employee in its factory.

Devol Engineering admitted failing to ensure the health and safety of its employees.

Greenock Sheriff Court heard that the Clarence Street company failed to carry out a risk assessment for the relocation of the lathe.

The Health and Safety Executive said the system of work at the factory was unsafe and the accident could have been avoided had reasonably practicable precautions been taken.

Gary Aitken, head of the Crown Office Health & Safety Division said: "This was an accident that resulted in severe injury to an employee and which could have been avoided."