JDM Accord fined £100k after reversing vehicle kills subbie

JDM Accord has been fined £100,000 following the investigation of an incident in which a subcontractor was crushed to death during road improvement works.
The contractor pleaded guilty to two charges of breaching of health and safety law at Stafford Crown Court, last Friday. It was also ordered to pay £32,000 costs.
Joseph Jenkinson was run over and killed by a slow-reversing agricultural trailer during road widening work at Wheaton Aston, near Stafford, on 31 July 2001.
Following the prosecution, the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) warned the construction industry that it needs to control reversing vehicles properly on sites.
HSE principal construction inspector Joy Jones said: "Banksmen are often used as the first or only line of protection for pedestrians from reversing vehicles, instead of proper precautions being implemented to eliminate or reduce reversing and providing visibility aids such as CCTV and mirrors.
"There were many elements that contributed to this accident, but the 'safe sight, safe vehicle, safe drivers' message had not been acted on," Jones said.