Large fines have been handed out to two multinational companies after one worker died and another suffered serious injuries during the building of a wind farm.

Engineers were moving parts of a wind turbine onto a barge at Pakeston Quay, Harwich, when part of the blade weighing over two tonnes fell, killing one worker and badly injuring the other.

Frank Kroeger was taken by air to Cambridge’s Addenbrookes Hospital. He had severe injuries to his internal organs, a collapsed lung, rib fractures, crush injuries to his arm and hand and nerve damage.

After three weeks in hospital, he was taken for further treatment in his native Germany.

The family of the man who died do not wish his name to be released.

Both men were employed by Siemens Windpower A/S (SWP) but were contracted to Fluor Ltd.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation uncovered serious safety failings, including a failure to check equipment before starting the lift.

The two firms were prosecuted by the HSE in a four-week trial at Chelmsford Crown Court in July under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Fluor Ltd was fined £275,000 with £271,048 costs. Siemens Windpower A/S (SWP) was fined £375,000 with £105,355 costs.

Julie Rayner, of the HSE, said: “Had the right questions been asked when the lift was being planned and had the bolt and two brackets holding the blade and frame together been checked before they were lifted, the death and serious injury of two workers could have been prevented.”

The turbines were due to be delivered to the wind farm at Greater Gabbard, off the Suffolk coast, when the work accident happened in May 2010.