33-year-old Gheorghita Arsene was crushed while working on a construction site in June 2020.
He died when a 10ft (3m) trench collapsed on top of him, covering him in soil. He had been working on a site in Park Road where an old care home was being demolished to make way for a new purpose-built home.
Appledorn Developments and T Vaughan Limited were found guilty of a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 at trial.
Contracts manager Anthony O’Connor admitted the same health and safety charge of failing to discharge his duties.
A judge has fined the now-defunct Appledorn £500,000.
TVL was fined £650,000 plus £40,000 in costs.
O’Connor was sentenced to 10 months in custody suspended for 18 months plus 150 hours’ unpaid work.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Debbie Birch, said: “Gheorgita Arsene’s death could have been avoided if the appropriate health and safety measures had been followed. It can be easy to cut corners to save time and money but this tragic death highlights just how important health and safety legislation is on all building sites.
“Sadly, this resulted in the death of a 33-year-old man who was simply trying to do his job, and our thoughts remain with his family and friends at this difficult time.”
A Health and Safety Executive spokesperson said:
“Gheorghita Arsene’s death was as horrifying as it was preventable. He lost his life because basic precautions were not in place to protect workers from the well-known risks that come with excavation work.
“Anthony O’Connor had observed workers in the trench without adequate protection and was aware of the measures required to prevent a collapse.
“This case is a stark reminder that when basic safety standards are ignored, the consequences can be fatal. Companies and individuals alike have legal duties to protect workers and where they fail to do so, and we will not hesitate to take enforcement action.
“Our thoughts today are with Mr Arsene’s loved ones, as they mourn their loss.”
