E155:05 18 November 2005

Construction company fined for roadworker death

Construction company Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd of Thornton Heath, Surrey, was today fined a total of £60,000 and ordered to pay £45,000 costs at Wolverhampton Crown Court, after pleading guilty to breaches of health and safety legislation. The case brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) follows its investigation into the death of employee Stephen Haywood during construction of the Nesscliffe Bypass in Shropshire on 4 October 2002.

Speaking after the case, HSE investigating inspector Katherine Walker said: “This incident is one that could have easily been avoided. It is a sobering reminder of the dangers that exist during roadworks. Employers must carry out risk assessments and take proper precautions to protect their workers from oncoming vehicles when involved in temporary traffic works.”.

Mr Haywood was operating a ‘stop-go’ board to control traffic flow, from an island on the A5, whilst an anti-skid surface was applied to the road, when he was struck by a heavy goods vehicle and killed.

Balfour Beatty pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, in that they failed to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of their employees

Notes to Editors

1. Section 2(1), of the Health and Safety At Work Act 1974 states: “It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practical, the health, safety and welfare at work of all of his employees.”

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