THREE companies were fined more than £282,000 after a man was left paralysed in an accident at Shell's Stanlow oil refinery.

Father-of-three Stephen Rizzotti, 41, was left in a wheelchair after a cage filled with more than 500kg of rubble fell 30ft, crushing him.

Yesterday, Shell UK, which runs the Cheshire site, Mr Rizzotti's employer Dalprop Ltd (formerly SG Blair and Co) and sub-contractor Hertal UK, were ordered to pay a total of £326,200, including costs, at Warrington Crown Court.

The accident, on February 9, 2007, left Mr Rizzotti, from Runcorn, fighting for his life in intensive care for 19 weeks.

He suffered a broken back, two broken legs, a broken pelvis, ribs and shoulder.

All three companies admitted guilt after the Health and Safety Executive brought the case to court.

Addressing Mr Rizzotti and his wife, Jayne, who were in court, Judge Roger Dutton said: “I have read and heard many glowing testimonies to Mr Rizzotti as a family man and employee. He would always give up his time for the benefit of others and this disaster for him and his family is truly shattering.

“But he has shown remarkable fortitude and strength of character through the dark days of the last three years.”

Judge Dutton said neither Shell or SG Blair and Co had identified the obvious dangers of operating a crane above the spot where many members of the workforce came in and out.

He also said Shell, SG Blair and Co and Hertal UK each failed to carry out risk assessments.

Judge Dutton said he accepted lessons had been learned from the “fundamental failures” and the “lamentable failings” of the companies to act on a warning over the safety of the crane raised by another site worker the previous day.