Worker killed by reversing telescopic handler

Grant Prior 8 years ago
Share

A construction company and its groundwork contractor have been fined after a worker was killed by a reversing vehicle.

Exeter Crown Court heard how an employee of Steve Hoskin Construction Limited (SHCL) was working for the groundwork contractor at a construction site in Dawlish, Devon when he was crushed by a reversing telescopic material handler.

John Small, 47, was crushed by the vehicle after it reversed while he was walking alongside it. Small was pronounced dead after suffering multiple injuries.

An HSE investigation into the incident on 28 June 2013 found that Cavanna Homes, the principal contractor for this site, failed to ensure this area of the construction site was organised to enable pedestrians and vehicles to move safely.

Cavanna Homes (SW) Limited, of Torquay, Devon, pleaded guilty to breaching CDM Regulations and was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £20,000.

Steve Hoskin Construction Limited, of Pensilva, Liskeard, pleaded guilty to safety breaches and was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £20,000.

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Caroline Penwill said: “There were no control measures in place to segregate vehicles and pedestrians in the area where the incident happened.

“Separating pedestrians and vehicles by introducing measures such as walkways with barriers, could have prevented John Small’s death”

Latest plant news

JCB to double size of US factory in wake of Trump tariffs

$500m Texas factory under construction to expand to 1m sq ft
11 hours ago

Cat deal sees Flannery plant investment top £100m this year

Leading plant hirer continues to invest in fleet
3 weeks ago

Takeuchi sells its 50,000th excavator in UK and Ireland

Hirer L-Lynch expands its fleet
4 weeks ago

Police arrest plant hire fraud gang

Nine arrests after kit hired "with no intent of ever returning the machines"
4 weeks ago

New mobile charging vans crack electric plant downtime anxiety

FM Conway trials new service that recharges small plant in one hour
1 month ago

City centre electric crane available from AGD

Rental specialist now selling latest Marchetti machine
2 months ago
AGD Equipment Ltd

Speedy Hire latest to be hit by slow CP7 rail spending

Plant-hire firm flags issues with latest Network Rail spending round
2 months ago

Building boss sold diggers still on HP

Court hears how building director sold rented machines to fund sports car and gambling habit
2 months ago

Buckingham Plant Hire quits heavy kit market

Firm to sell fleet and focus on lighter, sustainable plant
3 months ago

Vp launches dedicated rail division

Launch comes as equipment rental specialist posts latest results
4 months ago

High tech construction plant could save country £417bn

Costain report says kit which connects and drives itself will provide a massive economic boost
6 months ago

Balfour puts human recognition cameras on plant

Supply chain will need to install similar measures next year
8 months ago

Tarmac trials electric tipper truck

Pioneering EV tipper being put through its paces
9 months ago

Amey switches kit supplier to Speedy from HSS

New plant and equipment hire deal worth £25m a year
10 months ago

Van Elle fined £233,000 after piling rig kills driver

Court hears how tragedy was caused by poorly maintained plant
10 months ago

Squibb liquidator probes £2m of “missing” plant

Machinery, cars and scrap metal have disappeared at demolition specialist
11 months ago

Plant bosses blast “inflexible” police over road bans

Officers spotted outside sites and depots monitoring movements of large kit
11 months ago

Road sweeper specialist files administration notice

Go Plant lodges court notice
11 months ago

Hydrogen-fuelled diggers to be allowed onto highways

Government to raise barrier to widespread use of hydrogen fuelled plant in construction
1 year ago

Police hunt for blundering dumper truck thief

Raider drove into a fence before getting stuck on a bank
1 year ago

AGD suppliers latest crawler cranes for HS2

Buyer Total Plant Ltd puts two Sennebogen machines to work in Birmingham
1 year ago
AGD Equipment Ltd

Fife groundworks and plant hirer goes under axing 35 jobs

James Penman (Plant Hire) falls into administration in 50th anniversary year
1 year ago

Cornish plant hire firm files administration notice

Duchy Plant Hire has a 400-strong fleet serving sites across the South West
1 year ago

Plant sales slumped 29% in final quarter of last year

Excavator sales hardest hit by downturn
1 year ago

New partnership promotes plant crossing safety

SRL Traffic Systems and CLD Physical Security Systems establish hire partnership
1 year ago
SRL Traffic Systems

Rail plant giant TXM files administration notice

Staff looking for new jobs at UK's largest supplier of road/rail vehicles
1 year ago

Worker crushed to death at Nationwide Platforms site

Powered access hire giant fined £900,000
1 year ago

JCB and Manitou end six-year legal battle

Plant giants settle telehandler patent dispute
1 year ago

JCB prompts probe into “dumped” Chinese diggers

Trade watchdog to investigate if Chinese kit is unfairly undercutting domestic machines
1 year ago

Plant hirer Lyndon Thomas enters liquidation

Firm specialised in providing heavy earthmoving equipment and skilled operators
1 year ago

Contractor services