Two companies have been prosecuted after a telehandler ran over a employee during work on a construction site.

A D Bly Construction Ltd has been fined £26,000 with over £5,271 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 15(2) of Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.

Bellway Homes was also fined £31,500 with £48,600 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 13(1) of Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.

Basildon Magistrates' Court heard how a grounds worker was undertaking work in the middle of a construction site road when he was run over by a telehandler on 14 July 2015. His injuries included a chipped vertebra, muscular and tendon damage, while the employee has also been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

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A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found both the principal contractor, Bellway Homes, and subcontractor, A D Bly Construction, failed in their duties to effectively plan, manage and monitor control measures to address the risks associated with construction site vehicles. The investigation also found they failed to manage and control the risk of persons being struck by a vehicle on their construction site.

HSE said the worker was fortunate that he passed under the body of the reversing telehandler, and not under the wheels, which would have likely resulted in his death.

Speaking after the case, HSE Inspector Ian Shearring said: "The risks associated with construction vehicles is well-known and both companies failed in their duties to address these.

"Both Bellway Homes as the principal contractor, and A D Bly as subcontractor, have today been held to account for failing to take adequate action to protect the health and safety of persons working on their site."

(LM)