Whiteinch Demolition Limited, a Glasgow demolition contractor, was fined after a worker was killed. The worker died apparently when a weight from a face shovel machine fell on him, according to a report from the Health and Safety Executive.
Sixty-eight year old Bernard McCarroll, of Croy, was dismantling a hydraulic excavator by the process known as burning, using a flame torch at the Glascow company’s yard. The machine weighed seven tons (7,080 kilograms) and had a rear weight to assist stability. While flame cutting the bolts holding this weight to the frame of the machine, part of it fell onto McCarroll causing fatal injuries.
An HSE investigation found the dismantling operation had not been properly risk assessed or planned by the company. The court was told that a safe system of work was not provided to those workers designated to dismantle the excavator. It was also found insufficient assembly information and instructions were made available by the company.
After the hearing, HSE Inspector Russell Berry noted, "The dismantling operation had not been planned sufficiently and it was left to Mr. McCarroll to decide how to carry out the task as it progressed.”
"In failing to carry out a risk assessment for this job and failing to plan a safe method of carrying out the work, Whiteinch Demolition Ltd failed to protect Bernard McCarroll and it cost him his life.”
"This incident was entirely foreseeable and could have easily been avoided. If straightforward steps had been taken then Mr. McCarroll would undoubtedly be alive today."
At Glasgow Sheriff Court in late August, Whiteinch Demolition Ltd, of Centurion Works, Balmuildy Road, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974. It was fined roughly $24,000 (£15,000).
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