On 13 July 2004 T G Beighton Ltd of Holmewood, Chesterfield, were working as the principal contractor building 11 industrial units on a brownfield site in Sheffield. During the course of this work a tank was being installed and the excavation collapsed.

Two employees of the company men were crushed in the collapse. John Morton sustained fatal injuries whilst his colleague, Daniel Thompson, sustained serious crush injuries from which he recovered. The area of the excavation in which the men were working was approximately three metres deep and had no precautions in place to prevent the sides from collapsing.

Following a joint investigation by the Police and the HSE a manslaughter charge was brought against one of the site foremen, Mark Winter of Chesterfield, whilst health and safety charges were brought against the company, its health and safety director, Richard Palmer of Sheffield, and Mark Winter.

Following a six day trial at Sheffield Crown Court, Mark Winter was found not guilty of manslaughter, whilst fines of £35,000, £2,500 and £750, plus costs of £10,000, £1,000 and £150, were imposed respectively against T G Beighton Ltd, Richard Palmer and Mark Winter for the health and safety charges to which they pleaded guilty.