Fatal work accident sees company fined

A papermaking company in Fife has been fined £260,000 after one of its employees suffered a fatal work injury.

Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court heard that on September 29th 2008 Thomas Sturrock was working for a contractor on the roof of one of the company's warehouses in Makinch. His personal injury was sustained when he fell through the fragile surface almost 50 feet to the concrete floor below. Paramedics said that he died at the scene of the incident.

The firm, of Glenrothes, Fife, admitted in court to breaching Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

A failure by the firm to adequately plan and organise the contractor's work was identified in a Health and Safety Executive investigation. In addition, the company did not review the work taking place, control or monitor it.

In another recent case, Premier Security Glazing Ltd, of Marriot Road, Swinton was fined £2,500 for a work accident in which an employee fractured his wrist and bruised his back in a fall.

Published by Phil Hammond