A company has been fined £30,000 after a delivery driver taking crushed concrete to a construction site was killed.
Father-of-four Levi Alleyne lost his life while making the delivery off Swallowfield Road, Reading, on November 16, 2020.
The crane arm of his lorry came into close contact with an overhead power line, which then created an electrical charge.
The 41-year-old later passed away from his injuries.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found BBM Contracts, the principal contractor, ordered the delivery and chose the area where the crushed concrete would be delivered.
However, the delivery area was located below an 11kv overhead powerline.
The company was aware of the presence of overhead powerlines but did not consider whether there was an alternative way of working which avoided them, nor did it put in place demarcations or warnings.
An alternative delivery route was subsequently used following the incident.
BBM Contracts, of Aldbourne Avenue, Earley, Reading, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 13(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.
The company was fined £30,000 at Reading Magistrates’ Court on June 20.
BBM Contracts has also been ordered to pay £11,613.50 in compensation to the family of Alleyne.
HSE principal inspector Georgina Symons said: “This tragic incident led to the death of a father-of-four.
“This death might have been prevented if the contractor had correctly identified and managed the risks involved.
“The dangers associated with overhead power lines are well-known and a wealth of advice and guidance is freely available from HSE and other organisations.”
The prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Samantha Tiger and supported by HSE paralegal officer Helen Jacob.
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Gareth has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist having started his career in local newspapers in the 1990s. Prior to joining Fleet News in 2008, he worked in the public sector as a media advisor and is currently news editor at Fleet News.
martinwinlow - 17/07/2024 12:41
Baffled why the vehicle operator is considered in any way at fault here. Why was the driver not aware of the danger? Or is the vehicle owner also responsible for any other potential danger along a route? Spilt diesel, ice... lost wallabies...? Why were the overhead lines so low as to pose a threat to what is a relatively common vehicular configuration n the first place? I fear this sort of over-reaction from the courts is a good example of why, once autonomous vehicles become common, companies are going to ditch human drivers by the 10,000... and *then* where will we be?