A civil engineering company has been prosecuted after an employee was crushed to death between two vehicles during construction work in Sheffield.

RMB Contractors Ltd of Ripley Road Belper in Derbyshire pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It has been fined £75,000 with more than £24,482 in costs.

Sheffield Crown Court heard how the company was working to lay a new concrete slab at Ballast Phoenix Ltd in Claywheels Lane in December 2014.


During ground preparations, an old old cable duct had to be dug out before the concrete could be laid. A 21-tonne tracked excavator was being used to dig out the duct and a stationary dumper truck was parked behind it.

As the excavator was working back towards the dumper, father of three Darren Richardson was crushed between the two vehicles. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Speaking after the hearing, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector Medani Close said: "Back to back plant activities should be avoided as both pedestrians and vehicles could be put at a higher risk of coming into contact with each other.

"If the two separate work activities cannot be avoided, then the area should be safeguarded and effectively managed with segregation in place, for example using fencing or barriers to delineate the 'no go' areas for pedestrians."

(LM)