A building firm has been fined £160,000 after a man was killed by a construction vehicle when it slid down an embankment and overturned at a housing development in Glasgow.
Scott Bradley, 44, suffered fatal crush injuries in the telehandler crash, which occurred while he was reversing the vehicle to move scaffolding parts behind partially built houses.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said, despite the efforts of colleagues and emergency services, Mr Bradley died at the scene from a head injury.
The incident took place at the Lochwood Gardens/Stepford Road site in the east of the city on 11 May 2022.
An investigation by HSE, the national regulator for workplace health and safety, and Police Scotland found Merchant Homes Partnership Limited had not risk assessed the traffic route where the incident occurred.
The Glasgow-based firm – which has since gone into liquidation – was the principal contractor at the site and subsequently pleaded guilty to a breach of construction regulations.
The fine was handed down by Sheriff Louise Arrol KC at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Tuesday.
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The sheriff said: “In this particular case, the harm caused could not have been greater – as a consequence of the company’s admitted failure Mr Bradley lost his life.”
Sheriff Arrol noted that the firm cooperated with the HSE, fully accepted responsibility, and took immediate steps to remedy the cause.
The sheriff added: “The company is currently in liquidation.
“It was submitted that the fine should be proportionate to the means of the offender. In short, they have little, if any means at all.
“The liquidation process is ongoing and it remains to be determined what the financial position will crystallise at.”
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The court heard Mr Bradley was a step-father to six children and father to one child with his wife.
The sheriff said his family had been left “devastated by his death”, adding he was an experienced worker of whom colleagues “spoke highly”.
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HSE inspector James Caren said: “This was a tragic incident and our thoughts remain with the friends and family of Mr Bradley.
“Our investigation discovered that Merchant Homes Partnership Limited had failed in its duty to properly risk assess and introduce measures to ensure the traffic route was suitable for the telehandler being driven by Mr Bradley.
“As a result of this, the telehandler’s wheels went over the edge of the traffic route while it was being reversed, which tragically led to the vehicle overturning.”
