Fatal Accident In Construction

It has been revealed that two previous prohibition notices had been served at an Aberdeen building site where a man was killed.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said a notice had been given to Inveresk Developments in July 2007 and October 2008 regarding issues at the site where flats were being renovated.

The company had since sold the flats to a new developer and the HSE confirmed the notices applied to Inveresk and not the new firm.

A 63-year-old man died after he fell from scaffolding. He was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where he was pronounced dead. The HSE is carrying out a joint investigation with Grampian Police regarding the incident.

The regulator revealed the first notice was served against Inveresk due to a lack of emergency procedures and fire precautions. The second notice was issued after a follow-up inspection in which the developer was ordered to "cease all construction work until competent site manager in place".

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David Urpeth from law firm Irwin Mitchell said: “This is yet another tragic example of a fatal accident within the construction industry.  Falls from height remain a major category for serious and fatal injuries following the work accident.

“As such, employers need to ensure that workers are provided with a safe place and a safe system of work and the risks are properly assessed and dealt with.

“All too often, I have to assist workers pursue their compensation claim following injuries they have sustained following an accident at work.”