Worker dies in Glasgow demolition company
At a demolition company in Glasgow a worker was killed when a weight from a face shovel machine fell on this face at work.
The 68 year old man from Croy, was dismantling a hydraulic excavator in the yard by the process known as ‘burning,’ that is using a flame torch. The 7 tonne machine had a weight at the rear to assist stability. While he was cutting the bolts that held this part of the machine and the extra weight, part of it fell onto him and he suffered serious injuries and died.
‘A Health and Safety Executive (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 had not been provided to those carrying out the dismantling task. It was also found that insufficient information and instruction had been made available by the company with regard to the assembly of this large machine.’
After the hearing, HSE Inspector Russell Berry said:
"The dismantling operation had not been planned sufficiently and it was left to the worker to decide how to carry out the task as it progressed.
"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 yesterday (29 August 2011) The Company, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974. It was fined £15,000.
Updated on 9/6/2011