The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is reminding employers to ensure they adequately assess the risks from workplace vehicles. The warning follows the prosecution of a construction company after an 18-year-old apprentice was killed.

Taylor Wimpey Developments Ltd (formerly Taylor Woodrow Developments) was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay costs of £25,000 at Stoke Crown Court, on 11 March, 2008, after pleading guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Grant Meyrick, 18, a self-employed bricklayer and 'modern apprentice' attending Stoke-on-Trent College, was working on a housing development site at Trentham Lakes South, Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent.

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On 8 August 2003 the vehicle that moved buckets of mortar around the site to the bricklayers was not available to use as the tyres were punctured. Instead workers loaded tubs filled with mortar into the front bucket of a tractor loader.

Mr Meyrick and a colleague were waiting at the bottom of the mortar silo, it skidded to a stop and the bucket trapped Mr Meyrick against one of the silo's supporting legs. He sustained internal crush injuries and died on 26 August 2003.

Speaking after the case HSE Inspector Dave Brassington said: "Any company or individual in control of construction sites needs to assess the movement of vehicles and personnel around the site then implement appropriate controls to prevent people being struck by moving vehicles.

"In the area of the mortar silos there were no physical precautions provided to adequately segregate pedestrians from moving vehicles, such as barriers or vehicle wheel stops. There was also no effective control of the movement of vehicles or pedestrians in the area of the silos."

He concluded: "It is the responsibility of companies and individuals to protect both employees and non-employees from the evident risks. 18-year-old Grant Meyrick had a promising life and career before him."

(JM)