SCS Railways, a joint venture comprising Skanska Construction UK Limited, Costain Limited, and Strabag AG, has been fined a substantial £400,000 after a tipper truck driver sustained multiple injuries when his vehicle plunged off an excavation ramp. The serious incident occurred on 27 July 2021, at a HS2 construction site in Copthall North near Uxbridge, West London, highlighting critical safety failings.
Driver suffered multiple injuries in 20-tonne tipper truck fall
The 20-tonne tipper truck fell approximately two metres, landing on its side. The driver suffered a broken nose, a cut hand, and a shoulder injury, underscoring the severe risks associated with inadequate site safety measures. This alarming event prompted an immediate investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
HSE inspectors, upon visiting the site, uncovered several deficiencies in the safety protocols. They noted an absence of signage on the haulage routes being utilised by vehicles. Crucially, there was no edge protection in place to prevent vehicles from veering off the ramp, a fundamental safety requirement for such hazardous operations.
Further investigation revealed that excavations adjacent to some of the vehicle routes exhibited unsupported, vertical faces. These conditions posed a substantial risk of collapse, jeopardising the safety of workers and vehicles operating in the vicinity. The incident occurred in an area where SCS Railways was constructing a ‘cut and cover tunnel’, a process involving significant earthworks.
The project involved the excavation of material for the tunnel, with plans for its reuse on-site to minimise off-site transport needs. SCS Railways had engaged ACE Grab Hire and Haulage Limited (ACE) to manage the transportation of this excavated material using 20-tonne tipper trucks. ACE drivers had been working at the site for approximately two weeks prior to the incident.
The HSE investigation traced the root cause of the incident to a change in the earthworks plan on the morning it occurred. An Align JV representative identified that the original material designated for excavation could not be used, necessitating a shift in the excavator’s loading position and the creation of a new traffic route. This alteration, however, inadvertently left an unprotected edge on the bank above.
The first ACE tipper truck driver, unaware of the revised route or the newly created hazard, used the higher-level bank, causing his vehicle to slip on the ramp. Tragically, the subsequent ACE driver followed the same hazardous path, resulting in his vehicle veering off the edge of the bank and sustaining significant damage, along with the driver’s injuries.
SCS Railways, with its registered address at 1 Hercules Way, Leavesden, Watford, pleaded guilty to contravening section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. At Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on 16 June 2026, the company was handed a fine of £400,000 and ordered to pay additional costs totalling £8,974, reflecting the severity of their safety breaches.
HSE Inspector Gordon Carson commented on the case, highlighting that while SCS had detailed procedures for much of the work, including temporary works schemes for excavations, their failure to properly plan and promptly communicate changes in vehicle routes created unsafe conditions for tipper truck drivers. He stressed that the consequences of this incident could have been even more serious for the driver involved.
The HSE provides clear guidance on managing vehicle movements on construction sites, notably in its publication HSG 144, ‘The safe use of vehicles on construction sites’. This guidance explicitly mandates the provision of physical barriers, such as safety banks, at the edges of excavations to prevent such incidents. Furthermore, haul roads on construction sites are classified as temporary works, with specific guidance available from the HSE on their safe management.
This prosecution serves as a stark reminder to all construction companies, particularly those involved in large-scale infrastructure projects like HS2, of their paramount duty to ensure the safety of all personnel, including contractors. Thorough planning, effective communication of changes, and robust edge protection are non-negotiable elements of a safe working environment. The incident highlights the critical importance of adhering to established safety protocols and adapting them diligently when site conditions change.
This story was originally published by HSE Media Centre
