A construction company that specialises in road resurfacing in London has been fined £1,000,000 after one of its employees was killed by a reversing road-sweeper.
What happened?
- On 30 May 2022, Robert Morris, 48, was killed while working on a road resurfacing project in London.
- He was struck by a reversing road sweeper operated by a colleague.
The investigation found that:
- There was no segregation between pedestrians and moving vehicles on site.
- There was no banksman to guide the reversing vehicle.
- There was inadequate and unsafe traffic management systems, putting workers and the public at risk.
What was the result?
- Marlborough Highways Limited pleaded guilty to breaches of Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
- They were fined £1 million, with full costs awarded in the sum of £6,028 at City of London Magistrates’ Court (3 October 2025).
- The driver, Jamie Smith, 46, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving (Road Traffic Act 1988).
- Smith was sentenced to six months in prison and was disqualified from driving for one year.
Lessons Learned
- Effective segregation of pedestrians and vehicles is essential on construction sites.
- Most construction transport accidents result from inadequate pedestrian-vehicle separation.
- Identified safety controls must be properly implemented to prevent incidents.
- Careful site planning, particularly at the design stage, and strict traffic management are crucial for worker and public safety.
Further Information
- Further guidance can be found here ‘The safe use of vehicles on construction sites’ – HSG144
- Regulation 27 of the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015 focuses on Traffic Routes – guidance on this can be found in ‘Managing health and safety in construction’ – L153
- There is also a host of useful information on Traffic Management on Site on the HSE’s website.
Further information on this case can be found here
