Carillion Construction fined after worker’s death

The death of a railway worker in 2012 has led to Carillion Construction being fined £200,000 for breach of health and safety laws.

Carillion was also ordered to pay costs of £36,570.39, after pleading guilty at Lincolnshire Magistrates’ Court on January 11 to charges brought by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).

On December 4 2012, Scott Dobson from Doncaster was carrying out maintenance work near Saxilby (Lincolnshire) when he was struck by a passing train. During the ORR’s investigation, it found a number of failings in Carillion’s planning and management of the work.

Only one of the two railway lines had been blocked while maintenance was carried out. ORR said both lines should have been closed to minimise the possibility of workers being struck by passing trains.

“This accident was wholly avoidable, had Carillion Construction followed health and safety rules set out for the railways,” said HM Chief Inspector of Railways Ian Prosser.

“The safety of workers and passengers is a top priority for the regulator, which is why ORR inspectors are out on the railway daily, monitoring to ensure safety isn’t compromised.”