Council fined £2million after ‘devastating’ death of worker

Newport City Council has been fined £2million after “a hardworking man who loved his family very much” was killed while carrying out road repair works.

Stephen Bell,57 was barrowing tarmac from the back of the local authority’s tipper lorry when he was struck by a farm vehicle passing the road works.

Cardiff Crown Court heard how Mr. Bell and his colleagues had been carrying out resurfacing repairs on the section of Langstone Court Road that runs beneath the M4 motorway. At the time of the incident, a Newport City Council team leader and the four highway operatives were working on foot and were authorised to be on the site.

But an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the council did not take all reasonably practicable steps to organise a safe working environment.

HSE said the council should have ensured there was a suitable and sufficient safety zone between the road works area and the running lane (the live part of the carriageway), as well as securing the perimeter of the road works site against road workers entering the running lane.

Newport City Council, Civic Centre, Godfrey Road, Newport, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and has been fined £2million and ordered to pay costs of £9,780.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Philip Nicolle said:

“The council’s failures have had a devastating impact on Stephen Bell’s family.

“This tragic incident could so easily have been avoided if the council had simply carried out correct control measures and safe working practices.

“We will not hesitate to take action against those that fall below the required standards.

“Our thoughts remain with Mrs. Bell and those who knew and loved Stephen.”

Mr. Bell’s wife Jenny said the events have changed their family’s life forever:

“I do not have the words to express the pain my family and I felt when we heard the news and losing him so suddenly has taken its toll on us all and has left us all heart broken,” she said.

“Stephen was a kind, caring and a hardworking man who loved his family very much. He had a smile that lit up a room, an amazing sense of humour and laughter that was contagious.”

This prosecution was led by HSE enforcement lawyer Matt Reynolds.

Accidents at work – The law

Employers have a liability to ensure their workers are safe under The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The regulations set out a number of rules including providing a safe working environment that is properly maintained, where operations within it are conducted safely and adequate welfare provisions for staff at work.

It is a criminal offence to fail to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act. A breach of provisions of regulations can be punishable by fine, imprisonment or both.

If you have suffered from a work-related accident, get in touch with Oakwood Solicitors today.

Further reading

Accidents in public places – Oakwood Solicitors

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