Firm Fined After Death Of Employee

A top personal injury lawyer who specialises in work accident claims has called on all construction firms to ensure that site transport is always managed safely.

David Urpeth of Irwin Mitchell made the call after the Health and Safety Executive confirmed that Scottish construction firm James Swinton Co was fined £10,000 over the death of Charles Wilkinson.

The 51-year-old employee was struck by a telehandler while it reversed the wrong way along a one-way street in Tweedmouth in November 2008. While Wilkinson was released from hospital after suffering injuries, he died of a blood clot caused by the incident around a month later.

Commenting on the case, David Urpeth said: “The reports of this tragic case make it clear that the work accident involving Mr Wilkinson could have been avoided had the proper measures been in place to manage site transport.

“It is unfair that those who go to work everyday should face situations which put their safety in jeopardy.

“We hope that this case sends out a message to employers that they simply cannot avoid this issue. A failure to address it is only likely to lead to more workplace injuries, as well as prosecution by the authorities.”