Marlborough Highways Fined Following Road-Sweeper Incident in Haringey

London-based resurfacing specialist Marlborough Highways has received a £1 million fine following a tragic incident in which an employee lost his life after being struck by a reversing road-sweeper during resurfacing works on Pemberton Road, Haringey, in May 2022.

The employee, Robert Morris, aged 48, had been working on site when the incident occurred. A joint investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Metropolitan Police examined the circumstances and highlighted areas where safety procedures could have been improved.

The investigation found that there was no physical separation between vehicles and pedestrians on site, and that a banksman was not used to assist with reversing operations. It also noted that traffic management arrangements could have been more robust to enhance overall site safety.

Marlborough Highways Limited, based in Chelmsford, pleaded guilty to two breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £1 million and ordered to pay £6,028 in costs at a hearing at City of London Magistrates’ Court on 3 October 2025.

In a related case, the vehicle’s driver, Jamie Smith, was prosecuted for causing death by careless driving under the Road Traffic Act 1988. He received a six-month suspended prison sentence and a 12-month driving disqualificationat Wood Green Crown Court in February 2024.

HSE Principal Inspector James Goldfinch expressed his condolences to the family, saying:

“Our thoughts remain with Robert’s family at this very difficult time. Every worker has the right to return home safely, and this case serves as a reminder of the importance of implementing and maintaining clear site safety procedures.”