Baldock firm fined after 22-year-old employee crushed

At Peterborough Magistrates’ Court today (Friday, March 22) the company was fined £133,330 and ordered to pay £8,500 in costs, following the death of James Rourke.

The site engineer sadly lost his life after being struck and run over by an excavator at Sarazen Gardens, Brampton, on November 18, 2019.

He had been attaching ‘warning’ work signs to fencing around the site when he was hit by the vehicle.

James Rourke sadly lost his life in November 2019. (Image: HSE)

James and his family had celebrated his sister Katie’s 21st birthday the weekend before the fatal incident.

The young man from Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, had only joined Materials Movement Ltd months before, after graduating from the University of Birmingham with a degree in geology.

The firm, based in Royston Road, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 15(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.

A spokesperson for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said: "An investigation found Materials Movement Ltd had failed to plan and manage the work at Sarazen Gardens.

James Rouke sadly lost his life at Sarazen Gardens, Brampton. (Image: HSE)

"The company failed to properly supervise the work that James and the excavator driver were undertaking to ensure it was safe.

"The Baldock firm also failed to ensure the work was planned and managed to eliminate any chance of James working near the excavator."

James’ mother, Clare, added: "The sunshine has been taken from our lives and the dark gap is immense.

“Our profound loss is ever present; James is always missing. Missing from family events, Christmas, birthdays, holidays. Unknown to newborn family members. Unknown to new friends.

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“Our house has a bedroom with no owner. Possessions we cannot bear to touch, photographs we cannot look at.

“We were an even family of six, now an odd family of five – incomplete, unbalanced.

 “James was perfect. He was a big part of our close family unit.

"He would do anything for us. We cherished him, dearly.

"He was a compassionate, valued friend to many and was known for his humour and gentle nature.”