August 28th, 2008
A firm has been issued a fine of £400,000 following an accident in which two of its workers lost their lives.
Scottish Coal, which describes itself as the UK’s largest surface coal producer, was issued the fine during a hearing at Ayr sheriff court after pleading guilty to breaching health and safety laws.
The incident occurred in February last year when employees Colin Fergusson and Brian French were killed after their vehicle was crushed by a dumper truck at the company’s site in Dalmellington, East Ayrshire.
The driver of the 100 tonne capacity truck could not see their vehicle because it was in a blind spot.
"These two deaths were entirely preventable and arose from the clear failure of Scottish Coal to provide suitable means of communication between different vehicles on site in order to reduce the risk of collisions," stated Health and Safety Executive inspector Norrie Buchanan.
Tags: Ayrshire, Blind Spot, Buchanan, Coal Producer, Collisions, Dalmellington, Deaths, Dumper Truck, Failure, Fergusson, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Means Of Communication, Norrie, Safety Laws, Scottish Coal, Sheriff Court, Surface Coal, Tonne Capacity
Posted in Personal Injury News | No Comments »
August 4th, 2008
A Scottish firm has been ordered to pay fines and compensation following accidents which resulted in two workers suffering serious injuries.
During a hearing at Dingwall sheriff court, SGL Carbon Fibers, a manufacturer of carbon-based products, admitted to breaches of health and safety legislation and was made to pay a total of £13,000, plus compensation of £4,000.
On December 5th 2006, an employee was pulled into a spinning lathe and sustained five fractures to his left arm, the Aberdeen Press and Journal reports.
The following day, another worker had the tips of three fingers amputated when he put his arms into a machine in an attempt to remove a blockage.
Speaking after the case, John Pritchard, SGL site director, said: "We have tightened up our procedures and improved our staff training and communication throughout the company to make sure health and safety is always at the forefront of all our operating processes for all our staff."
Tags: Aberdeen Press And Journal, Accidents, Breaches, Carbon Fibers, Case John, Forefront, Fractures, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Legislation, John Pritchard, Left Arm, Scottish Firm, Sgl Carbon, Sheriff Court, Spinning Lathe, Staff Training, Sure Health, Three Fingers, Worker Injuries
Posted in Personal Injury News | No Comments »
