A FIREMAN who was run over by his own fire engine is now back on the career ladder -- and helping to spread the message about safety at work.

Horwich firefighter Robbie Moss was opening the 12-tonne fire engine's door for a colleague when a wheel went over his foot as the appliance reversed.

It broke nearly every bone in his foot and tore ligaments in his knee. Doctors feared he might never walk again.

Now he will warn other people about workplace dangers in a health and safety documentary on Granada TV.

He will also talk about his 20-month battle to get back to work in the programme, which is to be screened later this month.

"People need to be made aware of dangers," he said. "Accidents can happen at any time."

Father-of-one Robbie, aged 43, had a number of operations after his accident and was then sent to a rehabilitation centre for injured firemen.

Doctors feared he might not walk again and said he would probably not be able to work, even if his leg got better.

But after months of intensive physiotherapy, the firefighter was back on his feet and learning again how to climb a ladder.

He said: "I had to learn how to walk all over again.

"At times I didn't think I'd be able to do it, but eventually I was ready to go back to to the station.

"I don't even have a limp now, but the accident made me realise how important it is to think about health and safety.

"You've got to be responsible for your own safety. This is especially true in a job like firefighting, but it's the same for whatever job you do."

Seventeen people from across the North-west will appear in the programmes, which will be screened at 3.15pm every day for a week.

TV officials hope the series will help cut the number of deaths and serious injuries at work by 10 per cent.