Two companies have been prosecuted after a worker was crushed by a reversing vehicle at a site in Devon.

Cavanna Homes (SW) Limited, of Riviera Park, Nicholson Road Torquay, Devon, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 36(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. It was fined £20,000 with £20,000 in costs.

Steve Hoskin Construction Limited (SHCL), of Ten Acres Lane, St Ive Industrial Estate, Pensilva, Liskeard, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act. It was also fined £20,000 with costs of £20,000.


Exeter Crown Court heard how the victim, 47-year-old John Small, was working for SHCL at a construction site in Dawlish on 28 June 2013.

However, Mr Small was crushed by a telescopic material handler after it reversed while he was walking alongside it. He was pronounced dead after suffering multiple injuries.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that Cavanna Homes, the principal contractor for this site, failed to ensure this area of the construction site was organised to enable pedestrians and vehicles to move safely. In addition, SHCL had not fully considered the risks to their employees at this part of the site.

HSE inspector Caroline Penwill said: "There were no control measures in place to segregate vehicles and pedestrians in the area where the incident happened. Separating pedestrians and vehicles by introducing measures such as walkways with barriers, could have prevented John Small's death."

(LM/MH)