Incident 'Highlights Dangers Of Working At Height'

A Manchester-based wind turbine manufacturer has admitted to breaching health and safety regulations in relation to the death of a teenage worker at a wind farm in Stirlingshire.

Nordex UK pleaded guilty in relation to failings over the death of Brazil-born Basilio Brazao, 19, who was killed when he fell 100 metres down the shaft of a turbine at the Earlsburn wind farm in May 2007.

The company admitted to failing to ensure the health and safety of employees at the site, which was under construction at the time, while the firm also pled guilty to not providing a safe way for workers to scale up and down the 15 turbines across the farm.

Sentencing in the case has been deferred until June 15th, after the hearing at Stirling Sheriff Court was told of the financial situation of Nordex UK and the need for it to be considered in terms of any penalty.

Elaine Russell, a Partner at Irwin Mitchell’s Glasgow office, said it was vital lessons are learned from the incident.

She said: “This incident is like so many of our cases, in which workers have been seriously injured or killed as a result of safety failings which could and should have been avoided by employers.

“In addition, this is also another example of the huge dangers that working at height can pose to many people and should act as a clear reminder to many businesses of need to offer their staff advice, training and protection from potential risks.

“We hope that this encourages firms to ensure they always make health and safety a priority, with a view to preventing an incident like this from ever happening again.”