Taylor Wimpey Developments Ltd (formerly Taylor Woodrow Developments Ltd) was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay costs of £25,000 at Stoke Crown Court, on 11th March, 2008, after pleading guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Mr Grant Meyrick, 18, a self-employed bricklayer and 'modern apprentice' attending Stoke-on-Trent College, was working on a housing development site at Trentham Lakes South, Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent.

On 8th August 2003 the vehicle that moved buckets of mortar around the site to the bricklayers was not available to use as the tyres were punctured. Instead workers loaded tubs filled with mortar into the front bucket of a tractor loader.

Mr Meyrick and a colleague were waiting at the bottom of the mortar silo. As the tractor loader approached the silo, it skidded to a stop and the bucket trapped Mr Meyrick against one of the silo's supporting legs. Mr Meyrick sustained internal crush injuries and died on 26th August 2003.

Speaking after the case HSE Inspector Dave Brassington said:

"Any company or individual in control of construction sites needs to assess the movement of vehicles and personnel around the site then implement appropriate controls to prevent people being struck by moving vehicles.

"In the area of the mortar silos there were no physical precautions provided to adequately segregate pedestrians from moving vehicles, such as barriers or vehicle wheel stops. There was also no effective control of the movement of vehicles or pedestrians in the area of the silos.

"Had basic health and safety precautions been observed and risk assessment undertaken then it is most unlikely that such a fatality would have occurred. It is the responsibility of companies and individuals to protect both employees and non-employees from the evident risks. 18 year-old Grant Meyrick had a promising life and career before him."