A man died after falling from a ladder onto metal piping as he tried to install a public address system at Bearsden train station.
The company who employed Matthew Mason has been fined £550,000 yesterday and ordered to pay his family £200,000 in compensation following the horrific incident.
A 14-day trial at Dumbarton Sheriff Court heard the 20-year-old was trying to free speaker cabling that had become stuck when he fell backwards from the ladder onto the section of metal piping that was being used as a handle on a cable drum. This piping pierced his side causing internal injuries and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
READ MORE: Child wandered out of Glasgow nursery after worker left him unsupervised in playground
Sheffield based Linbrooke Services Limited was found guilty of breaches of health and safety and working at height regulations after the prosecution led evidence they had failed to plan, risk assess and have a safe system of work in place.
The company was found to have failed to adequately identify the risks involved with pulling cables through a conduit at height before the tragedy on June 5, 2018, even though they had been informed of the problems met by a sub-contractor in an earlier attempt.
Speaking after the sentencing, Debbie Carroll, who leads on health and safety investigations for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscals Service (COPFS), said: “Matthew Mason lost his life in circumstances which were foreseeable and avoidable.
“His death could have been prevented had Linbrooke Services Limited put in place appropriate planning, supervision, and protective measures to manage the risk of working at height.
"It is well known that falls from height are one of the single greatest causes of death and serious injury to workers within the construction industry."
“From the evidence heard here there needs to be an increased recognition and rigour within the industry in addressing the risks associated with the use of stepladders.
“This prosecution should remind duty holders that a failure to fulfil their obligations can have fatal consequences and they will be held accountable for this failure."
READ NEXT:
Dad jailed for life after murdering daughter's boyfriend in messy flat row
Trans woman once tried for murder pleads for NHS help amid botched gender surgery claim
Serial killer Peter Tobin's cause of death confirmed in new prison documents
Hamilton dad of prisoner who died of stomach ulcer in jail hits out at three-year wait for answers
Glasgow pup 'terrified of own shadow' after dog 'bit down on her skull' during attack
