News Releases
Hatfield Charges
09 Jul 2003Balfour Beatty, the international engineering, construction and services group, has today been notified that two former employees of its subsidiary company, Balfour Beatty Rail Infrastructure Services (BBRIS) – formerly Balfour Beatty Rail Maintenance – have been charged with involuntary manslaughter in respect of the tragic rail accident at Welham Green, Hatfield on 17 October 2000. BBRIS has itself also been charged with involuntary manslaughter.
We see no justification for manslaughter charges to be brought against our maintenance business or its former employees. The charge of manslaughter against our maintenance business will be firmly defended as we see no plausible basis for it in law or on the evidence. The individuals charged will have the company’s fullest support in their defence of the charges against them.
Additionally, four other former BBRIS employees and BBRIS itself are charged with regulatory breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act. BBRIS intends to firmly defend itself against these charges and, once again, its former employees will have the fullest support from the company in respect of the charges against them.
The health and safety of the travelling public and of our employees continues to be Balfour Beatty’s first priority. Balfour Beatty people, fully supported by the company, are working diligently with the rest of the industry to deliver a safe rail network. Balfour Beatty’s safety performance compares favourably with industry norms and is on a long-term trend of improvement, which the Group is committed to maintain.
We continue to offer our condolences to the bereaved families and those injured at Hatfield.
ENDS
Enquiries to:
Tim Sharp
Tel: +44 (0)20 7216 6884
