In addition to fine, Serco Limited, with head offices based at Bartley Wood Business Park, Hampshire, was also ordered to pay costs of £37,074 after pleading guilty to breaching Section 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 at Norwich Crown Court on 23 June 2023.
The verdict was announced yesterday (26 June) by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which has been investigating the incident that it said happened at around 12.45pm on 26 February 2019.
Describing the incident, the HSE outlined that Tony Skerratt, 44, from Enfield, was in the passenger seat of a Wren Kitchens lorry when it hit the vans, which were obstructing the inside lane of the A11 near Attleborough, between Norwich and Thetford.
The regulator then explained that the vans had been moving along the road slowly, stopping from time to time to allow bags of rubbish to be collected. It added that the litter picking was being carried out by Serco employees, with the company having been contracted by Breckland District Council to carry out the work.
Investigation
The HSE investigation found Serco Limited failed in its health and safety management of litter picking activities on high-speed dual carriageways. The company had not provided its employees with appropriate work instructions to ensure the litter picking activity was safe, the HSE continued. It added that Serco also failed to supervise and monitor the high-risk activity to ensure it was carried out safely.
HSE Inspector Saffron Turnell said that “this was a tragic incident where the death of a member of the public could have easily been prevented had Serco Ltd implemented and monitored the robust management systems required to ensure such a high-risk activity could be carried out safely”.
Mr Turnell added: “The company’s failings put its employees and those using the dual carriageway at significant risk and this incident has left a family grieving the loss of much loved son, brother and uncle. Our thoughts remain with the family.”
‘Implemented actions’
A Serco spokesperson told letsrecycle.com: “We send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the late Mr Tony Skerratt. As the judge made clear, Serco co-operated fully with the Health and Safety Executive, has a good health and safety record and a strong health and safety culture. Serco gives health and safety the highest priority throughout the business and we have implemented actions that are aimed at ensuring that such an accident will not happen again.”
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