A Surrey-based company has been fined after a site foreman was struck and injured by a vehicle on a construction site in Berkshire.

Crest Nicholson Operations Ltd., of Crest House, Pyrcroft Road, Chertsey, Surrey, pleaded guilty to breaches of Regulation 36 (1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. It was fined £800,000 with £10,984 in costs.

Reading Crown Court how David Cole, who was contracted to Harlequin Brickwork Ltd, was acting as a site foreman on a large housing development in Wokingham on 07 December 2014.

On this day, Mr Cole was walking along the site road at Mulberry Grove towards the rear of a bulk power (mortar) carrier. The vehicle, which was located on a T-junction having just reversed into the junction, pulled forward and turned towards the nearside. However, Mr Cole was walking along the vehicle's nearside as it pulled forward and he was dragged under it.

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His injuries included his skin being removed and split on his left arm and leg, he fractured his left hip requiring a pin to be inserted, and fingers on his left hand were broken. His left leg has also been left permanently shorter than his right by 20mm.

The court heard how principal contractor Crest Nicholson had failed to plan and manage the workplace transport effectively. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said the incident could have been avoided had the company monitored and taken action to ensure workers stayed behind the pedestrian barriers and not walked on the road, and prevented  large HGVs  reversing hundreds of metres at a time.

HSE's inspector John Berezansky said: "David Cole suffered life changing injuries because Crest Nicolson Operations Limited did not properly manage and monitor the workplace transport on their construction site. When working with such large delivery vehicles and construction plant, especially on projects where there are lots of pedestrians, the principal contractor much take responsibility and ensure the health and safety of all those involved."

(LM/MH)