Worker, 22, crushed to death while putting up 'warning' signs on building site

25 March 2024 , 12:37

892     0

James Rourke, 22, had only been taken on by Materials Movement Limited a few months (Image: HSE)

A young worker was putting up 'warning signs' on a building site when he was crushed to death.

James Rourke, 22, had only been working for Materials Movement Limited for a few months when an excavator ran over him. The firm has since been fined £133,000 and ordered to pay £8,500 after a prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

James, from Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex graduated in the summer of 2019 from the University of Birmingham and joined the company in November as a site engineer, Peterborough Magistrates heard.

The building site (HSE)

James and his family had celebrated his sister Katie’s 21st birthday the weekend before the fatal incident. An HSE investigation found that the death could have easily been prevented if his employer had properly planned, instructed, and supervised the work

James’ mother, Clare, said in her victim's personal statement: “The sunshine has been taken from our lives and the dark gap is immense.

Man killed and wife paralysed after being trampled by cows as they walked dogs

“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.

“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.”

Clare added: “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.”

HSE inspector Martin Paren said: “This tragic incident led to the avoidable death of a young man. This death could have easily been prevented if his employer had properly planned, instructed, and supervised the work.

“Our thoughts today are with the family of James, who should have been protected from such harm at work – because of the failings of Materials Movement Ltd he was not.”

Alahna Kindred