A SUPERMARKET giant has been fined more than £150,000 after a cage of goods fell out of a lorry and onto a staff member.

The staff member from the Chadwell St Mary Tesco branch in Brentwood Road was seriously injured following the incident, sustaining a fractured pelvis.

As a result of the incident they were rushed to hospital.

Thurrock Council’s Health and Safety and Legal teams brought the action because the roll cage, which is used to deliver goods to shops, should only be moved by two people.

Tesco pleaded guilty to the charge and were ordered to pay a £160,000 fine, £18,118 costs to Thurrock Council and a victim surcharge of £120.

Tesco had a previous health and safety conviction for allowing a lone workers to move a cage at their branch in Waverley.

Rob Gledhill, leader of Thurrock Council, said: “It is vital that workers are properly protected and safe when they are doing their jobs. We will always take action to ensure that proper standards are maintained by the borough’s employers.

“Both the Health and Safety and Legal teams have done an outstanding job bringing this case.

“The size of the fine should serve as a deterrent and a signal to employers that we take the health and safety or our residents and others who work in Thurrock very seriously.”