Derbyshire contractor fined £75,000 after fatal crush

As the excavator was working back towards the dumper Darren Richardson was crushed between the two pieces of plant. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

RMB Contractors, of Ripley Road Belper in Derbyshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and has been fined £75,000 and ordered to pay £24,482.80 costs.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Medani Close said: “Back-to-back plant activities should be avoided as both pedestrians and vehicles could be put at a higher risk of coming into contact with each other.

“If the two separate work activities cannot be avoided, then the area should be safeguarded and effectively managed with segregation in place, for example using fencing or barriers to delineate the ‘no go’ areas for pedestrians.”