Stephen Naysmith
A union is calling for tougher laws governing the construction and
maintenance of windfarms following the death of a pensioner who was working
as a security guard on a site in Ayrshire.
Unite Scotland said the details of what happened to the 74 year old – who
has yet to be named – were not yet clear.
However the union was already investigating the dangers of windfarm
working, following two previous incidents, an official said.
The man and a colleague were stranded in heavy snow while working at Afton
Windfarm, near Craigdarroch Farm, by New Cumnock on Sunday. Police said
they had been left without heat or power. Although a Police Scotland
mountain rescue team located the men and airlifted the 74 year old to
Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, he later died. The condition of his 43 year-old
colleague is not yet known.
Stevie Dillon of Unite Scotland said: “How long is it going to be before
the Government and HSE take action to prevent these totally avoidable
deaths? How many more workers will perish because nothing has been done to
establish proper legal safeguards for the construction and maintenance of
wind farms?”
He said the HSE were already investigating two other deaths on windfarms
and are expected to make recommendations regarding health and safety issues.
Stevie Dillon said: “Our experience shows that some of the conditions which
workers on windfarms have to put up with represent a return to the ‘bad old
days’ in the construction industry before unionisation. Of course the laws
governing wind farms should be a special case. But right now Unite is
building the union on wind farm sites to fight for better terms and safer
working conditions.”
The site is still under construction and had been expected to begin
production early this yeaer. In a statement Afton Wind Farm Ltd said: “We
confirm that there has been a fatality in connection with the project. Our
deepest sympathy and thoughts are with the family of the deceased at this
time.
“Health & Safety is taken very seriously by Management and we are
cooperating with the HSE and Police in their investigations. In addition,
we have also commenced our own independent investigation into the incident.”
Police and the Health and Safety Executive have investigations underway and
a report is expected to be sent to the procurator fiscal.
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