Neil Roberts, a 60-year-old depot manager at Turners (Soham), was fatally struck by a reversing HGV on August 30, 2019, in the transport yard of The Haulage Group (formerly known as Howell Group) in Birmingham.
Neil Roberts was remembered by his family as a devoted father and caring husband who worked tirelessly to provide for his loved ones. The family expressed the immense void left by his passing and the ongoing sadness they feel, noting that not a day goes by without missing him.
An investigation conducted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that both companies had failed to adequately address the risks associated with workplace transportation. The HSE found that the companies had neglected to implement effective measures to manage the dangers of reversing vehicles and poor visibility, which could have prevented the tragic incident.
Turners (Soham), based in Newmarket, Suffolk, pleaded guilty to violating Section 2(1) and Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £1.9 million and ordered to pay £7,300 in costs. The Haulage Group, located in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, also pleaded guilty to breaching the same sections of the act and received a fine of £300,000, with costs amounting to £7,300.
Amy Kalay, the principal inspector at HSE, emphasized that this devastating incident could have been prevented if the companies had properly recognized and managed the risks associated with workplace transportation. She emphasized the importance of maintaining a safe separation between pedestrians and vehicles and implementing appropriate measures to control and mitigate such risks.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) serves as the national regulator in the UK for workplace health and safety.
