Major Building Firm Pays Out £200K after Site Death

Construction firm George Wimpey North West has been ordered to pay more than £200,000 following an incident in which a stores worker died.

The company was found guilty at Liverpool Crown Court of criminal safety breaches relating to the September 2000 death of Harold Moran, 54. Mr Moran was killed when a forklift truck reversed into him on a building site in Kirkby. The jury found the company had failed to ensure its workers were not exposed to risks from the movement of vehicles.

Graham Wood QC, representing George Wimpey North West, told the court the company had won awards for its health and safety policies. He said Mr Moran's death provoked the company into taking further action to make sure that workers were safe. Judge Nigel Gilmour QC ordered George Wimpey North West to pay a fine of £150,000, plus prosecution costs of £56,000.
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