Company fined after worker dies on wind farm site
An engineering company has been fined £800,000 after 23-year-old labourer Liam MacDonald died while working at a wind farm construction site on the Shetland Islands.
The incident occurred on 5 June 2022 at the Viking wind farm site in Upper Kergord. Mr MacDonald, from Tain, Ross-shire, was removing dried concrete from a skip when its bale arm fell and pinned him against his chest.
Emergency services attended the scene after colleagues performed CPR and used a defibrillator, but Mr MacDonald was pronounced dead at the site. He had been working at the site for just over a month.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found the principal contractor, BAM Nuttall, had failed to secure the skip’s bale arm and had not implemented a safe system of work to prevent such incidents.
Jackie Randell, HSE investigating inspector, said: “This was a tragic incident which led to the death of a young man. BAM Nuttall failed in its duty to ensure the safety of their workforce. This prosecution serves as a reminder for all contractors to implement thorough risk assessments and safe systems of work.”
BAM Nuttall pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety laws, including Section 2(1) and Section 33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. At Inverness Sheriff Court, the company was fined £800,000 and ordered to pay a £60,000 victim surcharge.
Debbie Carroll, from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: “Liam MacDonald’s death could have been prevented if BAM Nuttall had sufficiently assessed the risks involved in cleaning the skip. My thoughts are with his family and friends.”
The HSE investigation emphasised the importance of up-to-date safety information from equipment manufacturers and rigorous monitoring to ensure workplace safety.
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