Company prosecuted and fined £1 million following the death of an employee

A construction company has been fined £1 million after one of its employees was killed by a reversing road sweeper.

A joint investigation was launched between the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Police which led to the driver being individually prosecuted and the company being prosecuted by HSE for health and safety breaches.

HSE identified that there was no segregation between people and moving vehicles on site and a banksman was not used when the road sweeper reversed and struck the employee.

The company pleaded guilty to sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 at the first opportunity.

This case is one of two fatal injuries reported by HSE in October caused by vehicle and pedestrian interaction.