A British carpet company has been fined after several health and safety breaches, including pedestrians being hit by forklifts in the warehouse.

The Bristol Evening Post reported Carpet Express Ltd, of Mead Rise, was fined GBP7,000 (USD12,436) plus GBP3,600 (USD6,395) costs, at Bristol Magistrates' Court after an investigation by Bristol City Council health and safety inspectors.

When an inspector first visited the company's warehouse and distribution centre in April 2004, he found the building in a poor state of repair.

Over the next six months there were five incidents involving employees, including one where a metal plate fell onto a forklift driver's foot, breaking two bones and putting him in plaster for four weeks. The premises closed in December 2004 but New Carpet Express Ltd continued.

Councillor Gary Hopkins, executive member for neighbourhood and housing services, said the company should have acted to protect the health and safety of its staff without the need for enforcement action.

The company was "fortunate no employees or members of the public suffered serious injury". he said.