An engineering company has been fined £860,000 after a worker was crushed at a wind farm site in the Shetland Islands.
Liam MacDonald, from Tain, died on June 5, 2022 while removing dried concrete from a container at the BAM Nuttall-operated Viking site in Upper Kergord.
His mother said the 23-year-old was “full of hopes and dreams” and is now missed “indescribably”.
Mr MacDonald, a temporary worker who started working at the site on May 4, was chipping away at the concrete with a hammer when the container's bale arm fell on him.
He was found motionless with his bunion arm pressed to his chest, leading to the alarm being raised at the scene.
Colleagues performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on him before a defibrillator was administered, but emergency services pronounced him dead at the scene.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigating inspector Jackie Randell found that main contractor BAM Nuttall had failed to secure the bale arm from falling.
The HSE investigation found the company had failed to recognize the risks of a falling bale arm and had not put in place a safe system of work to ensure anyone using, maintaining or cleaning the bale bin was protected from harm.
Wendy Robson, Mr MacDonald’s mother, said: “Liam loved life, his family and his friends.
“He was just beginning his adult life, still figuring out who he was and full of hopes and dreams.
“We were robbed of having Liam here today and tomorrow and sharing these dreams with him. We will never see the children he wanted so much again.
“We cannot adequately describe who Liam was and what he means to us. We love and miss him beyond words.”
BAM Nuttall Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) and Section 33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
The company was fined £800,000 plus a victim surcharge of £60,000 at Inverness Sheriff Court on December 18, 2024.
Jackie Randell said: “This was a tragic incident which resulted in the death of a young man. Our thoughts are with Mr. MacDonald's friends and family at this time.
“BAM Nuttall had failed in its duty to ensure the safety of its workforce. This prosecution should serve as a reminder to all contractors to implement appropriate risk assessments and safe systems of work.
“We have thoroughly investigated this incident and found that BAM Nuttall failed in its duty to ensure the safety of its workforce. This prosecution should serve as a reminder to all contractors to implement appropriate risk assessments and safe systems of work.
“Current safety information from work equipment manufacturers must be reviewed as part of this risk assessment process. It is critical that workers are informed of safety information from manufacturers and that strict monitoring is carried out to ensure everyone’s safety.”
Debbie Carroll, who leads health and safety investigations for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: “Liam MacDonald’s death could have been prevented if BAM Nuttall Limited had adequately and sufficiently assessed the risks associated with the maintenance. “ Cleaning the concrete column container on the construction site.
“Their failure to recognize the dangers posed by the container’s bale arm and to ensure it was secured before cleaning work began resulted in Mr MacDonald’s death.
“My thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”
BAM Nuttall Ltd has been contacted for comment.
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