Gordon Currie

A COMPANY working on one of Scotland’s largest wind farm projects has been
fined £32,000 after a worker lost a leg in a horrific accident.

The sub-contractor admitted a catalogue of failures which led to the
accident which left Gregor Steele, 20, needing surgery to have his leg
amputated above the knee.

Gallagher Groundworks Ltd was fined at Perth Sheriff Court after it
admitted being responsible for the “life-changing” injuries to Mr Steele at
the Griffin Wind Farm in Aberfeldy, Perthshire.

The Crieff-based company – which has around 14 employees and a £1.4 million
turnover – was told by a sheriff it had committed a serious breach of
health and safety rules.

Mr Steele was trying to pour water from a bowser on to an overheating
rock-crusher when he was crushed between two heavy items of plant in
September 2010.

The court was told that the tractor he was driving was only capable of
pulling three tonnes safely and the water bowser, when full, weighed up to
12 tonnes.

Fiscal depute Gavin Callaghan said that even if the bowser was empty it was
still too heavy for the tractor to tow safely. It was the weight which
dragged the tractor when it was parked and left Mr Steele trapped.

Mr Callaghan said the tractor had two braking systems, but only one of them
worked properly, while the other had a note taped over it to tell the
driver it could not be operated. He said the company had been using it in
that condition for five months.

He said: “The Health and Safety Executive revealed significant deficiencies
in relation to the braking of the tractor. This was at the construction
site for the Griffin Wind Farm.

“Even when it was empty the bowser exceeded the weight the tractor was
capable of towing. Various witnesses saw it roll backwards.”

He told the court that Mr Steele was dragged free of the machinery and
airlifted to hospital. The decision was taken to amputate his left leg a
few days later.

The court was told that he was unable to work for two years but had since
returned to work for Gallagher Groundworks and was able to drive automatic
tractors.

Solicitor Gordon Keyden, defending, said: “This was an unfortunate and very
serious accident. The weight of the bowser is the nub of the issue. That’s
what caused the tractor to be dragged backwards. The accused accepts
responsibility for the failure to identify the fact this bowser was too
heavy for this tractor. That was the true cause of the accident.”

The company admitted failing to ensure the safety of its employees at the
wind farm between August 13 and September 3, 2010, which led to their
employee being injured.

The company admitted that Mr Steele was left “severely injured, permanently
disfigured and permanently impaired” as a result of crushing injuries on
September 3, 2010.

Sheriff Fiona Tait said: “The court must take the view this is a serious
breach. I must have regard to the injuries sustained by Mr Steele, which
are properly described as life changing.”


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