Companies convicted after Ayrshire windfarm worker froze to death
Ronnie Alexander was working on site as a security guard
Two companies have been convicted over the death of a security guard on a windfarm in East Ayrshire.
Ronnie Alexander, 74, died at the Afton windfarm near New Cumnock after being stranded during severe weather.
The security guard from Kilmarnock succumbed to hypothermia when his cabin generator failed leaving him without electricity or heat.
Employers CSM Facilities and windfarm bosses Farrans Construction were convicted today (Wednesday 25th August 2021) at Ayr Sheriff Court over the death after they admitted to health and safety breaches.
Relatives have now called on all industries to improve care and support measures for remote workers.
His widow Mary Alexander, 81, said: “Losing Ronnie was the hardest thing our family has experienced.
“He was loving, hard-working, kind spirited, and he doted on his grandkids – that’s why he was still working in his 70s because he wanted to spoil his family.
“My husband died in January 2018 and November of that year would have been our 50th wedding anniversary.
“To have lived through so much together and have him taken because his boss failed on basic, common sense procedures is just beyond us all.
“While we now know what happened that night it pains us to imagine what Ronnie felt – not just the physical struggle but enduring it alone. Because of this, we’ll never really have peace or closure.”
'Hope of surviving the night'
The incident happened on 21st January 2018 during yellow Met Office weather warnings for heavy snow.
The alarm was raised around 8.30pm when Mr Alexander failed to return home after a 12-hour shift and relatives were unable to get an answer on his mobile phone.
Police Scotland’s Mountain Rescue Team found Mr Alexander later that night around 1am in deep snow and nearly one mile away from his security cabin.
At this time Mr Alexander still had signs of life and was airlifted to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary but medics only estimated a 5% chance of survival.
Despite the efforts of intensive care staff, Mr Alexander died later that morning on January 22nd – cause of death was confirmed as hypothermia.
It is thought Mr Alexander left his cabin trying to reach a second site cabin around one kilometre away in the hope it still had power to survive the night.
Call for change
Daughter Laura Alexander, 48, said: “The only saving grace is that the rescuers found our dad and the hospital kept him alive long enough so he wasn’t alone at the very end and we got to say goodbye.
“We now just hope all industries, not just windfarms, who rely on remote workers take a hard look at themselves, their support procedures and back-up plans to make sure people are safe.”
She added: “No other family should have to endure this trauma because it’s not just the loss that hurts – the aftermath brings its own agony.
“We finally just want to thank our family, friends and the community for their support but now request to be left alone.”
Mr Alexander was employed by CSM Facilities based in Glasgow however Belfast firm Farrans Construction – which was building the windfarm at the time of the incident – was responsible for the overall health and safety of the site.
Following Mr Alexander’s death Farrans put a stop to night time and weekend security work – instead they installed high-tech electronic security devices.