Alness electricity death results in £133,000 fine
A safety expert says Gareth Aitken's employers "did not provide for a safe system of work"
Gareth Aitken's death was "foreseeable and entirely avoidable" according to a Crown Office health and safety expert.
Tain Sheriff Court heard that Mr Aitken, 26, was supervising two junior colleagues while working on the power line between Beauly and Dounreay at Contullich Woods, Alness, on 2nd August 2013.
He was using a suspended work platform to replace the cables between the pylons on the line and came into contact with a charged electric cable while moving the platform to a lower position on the pylon and was electrocuted.
Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission, responsible for maintaining the electricity transmission network in the north of Scotland, pleaded guilty to breaking health-and-safety legislation.
The company admitted failing to adequately ensure a safe system of work was in place, therefore exposing Mr Aitken to the risk of electrocution due to inadequate means to earth the live power line.
Had there not been a guilty plea from the electricity company, they were told the fine could have been £200,000