Alfred McAlpine Capital Projects have been fined a total of £255,859 this month following the death of a motorcyclist at one of its roadworks sites in 2005.
The man died when he collided with temporary concrete crash barriers that had been laid in a line across the former A228 old Ratcliffe Highway on the Isle of Grain, Kent. It later emerged that "Road Closed" signs and traffic cones to warn drivers of the closure had been missing for more than eight weeks, despite the contractor working in the area almost every day. McAlpine pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, for failing to ensure proper planning, inspection and maintenance programmes on the roadworks job.
Commenting after the prosecution, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector John Underwood said, "The temporary traffic management system should have been checked at least once a day but this was never done properly. The barriers were only 450mm high and from a distance they could have been mistaken for a shadow or a change in the colour of the tarmac. It is clear the motorcyclist braked hard and tried to avoid the barrier but could not stop in time."
A spokesperson for Carillion, who bought Alfred McAlpine in February 2008, said, "Our prime concern remains the health, safety and well-being of our employees, sub-contractors and everyone affected by our activities and our deepest sympathy is extended to the family and friends of the deceased. We recognise that first class health and safety standards are fundamental to our business and remain committed to reinforcing an absolute focus on these."
