Derbyshire firm fined after worker crushed to death on building site

A civil engineering company has been handed a hefty fine after a worker was crushed to death between two vehicles on a Sheffield building site.
Sheffield Crown Court heard that in December 2014, RMB Contractors were working on laying a new concrete slab at Ballast Phoenix on Claywheels Lane in Sheffield.
During ground preparation an old cable duct had to be dug out before the concrete could be laid. A 21-tonne tracked excavator was being used to dig out the duct, parked behind it was a stationary dumper truck.
As the excavator was working back towards the dumper, Darren Richardson was crushed between the two pieces of plant. Richardson was pronounced dead at the scene.
RMB Contractors, based 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.
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.

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