Home builder fined £160,000 after worker death

A construction firm has fined £160,000 after a worker was killed when a vehicle he was operating fell down an embankment.

Merchant Homes employed experienced worker Scott Bradley, 44, who suffered a fatal head injury at the large new-build development in Lochwood Gardens in Easterhouse, Glasgow on May 11 2022.

A investigation was launched by Health and Safety officials.

The Glasgow based firm - which has since gone into liquidation - were the principal contractors for the site in Easterhouse.

The investigation concluded there were issues with a "traffic route" at an area Mr Bradley had been working at that day.

Merchant had failed to ensure it was suitable for plant vehicles and had not carried out a proper assessment of any possible hazards.

It also emerged there had been previous concerns raised about the site.

Merchant has now pleaded guilty to a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

Sheriff Louise Arrol KC stated: "In this case, the harm caused could not have been greater.

"It is the consequence of the company's failure that Mr Bradley lost his life.

"His family have been devastated by his death - he was an experienced operative and colleagues spoke highly of him.

"He was a step-father to six children and a father to one child with his wife.

"I said on the last occassion that I express my condolences and I do so again.

"The sentence which I have imposed is not in any way commensurate his loss."

The court earlier heard Mr Bradley lived with his wife and family in Larkhall, Lanarkshire.

He was an experienced telehandler driver - a vehicle used to lift heavy loads on site.

Mr Bradley was highly regarded with colleagues remarking how "safety conscious" he was.

At the time, he was using the telehandler to move scaffolding parts.

Fiscal Richard Brown said: "While reversing, the right rear offside wheel of the telehandler slipped over the edge of the embankment.

"This caused the telehandler to flip and for Mr Bradley to be partially ejected from the cab and crushed."

There was a witness in nearby playing fields who dialled 999.

This person then went through a gap in the fence to help Mr Bradley. Other site workers also rushed to his aid.

Mr Bradley was found to have a severe head injury.

Mercy crews arrived to try and free a now unconscious Mr Bradley from the telehandler.

They got him out, but sadly he did not survive.

The Health and Safety Executive arrived and immediately had a number of concerns including about site security and it being untidy.

There were also "multiple examples" of uneven ground meaning scaffolding was not properly supported.

A number of "improvement notices" were then issued.

The court heard there were "no risk assessments which considered the hazards and associated risks" of vehicles such as telehandlers on the traffic route where Mr Bradley had been working.

Mr Brown: "The unevenness of the road increased the risk of wheeled plant becoming unstable and tipping."

This included the possibility of a vehicle falling down an embankment.

The hearing was told Merchant Homes complied with improvement notices issued at time of the investigation.

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