Platform Safety Jail Sentence

Posted on January 12, 2017

Two-year jail sentence for plant hire boss after fatal accident when platform collapses in Scotland.

Donald Craig, manager at Craig Services was found guilty of breach of health and safety legislation after a 16-day trial at Airdrie Sheriff Court. Craig was sentenced for the maximum of 2 years in prison.

The accident was caused when the third main boom section of the platform buckled whilst safety rigger Gary Currie and Alexander Nisbet were in the basket attached to the platform. The two men were removing netting from the exterior of Buchanan House in Glasgow. Nisbet survived the accident with serious injuries and Currie was fatally injured.

Health and Safety Executive Principal Inspector Graeme McMinn stated: “The death of Gary Currie was entirely preventable.

“Craig Services and Access Ltd and Donald Craig were advised by the manufacturer to replace the damaged boom. Instead, they chose a much cheaper repair that left the boom in an unsafe condition.

“Guidance in the British Standard “Safe Use of MEWPS” advises that repairs to any parts of the MEWP structure should be in accordance with the procedure specified by the manufacturer.

“At the time of the accident the MEWP had a catalogue of defects some of which were safety critical demonstrating that Craig Services and Access Ltd did not have an adequate proactive maintenance and reactive repair system in place within the company.

“For a complex piece of equipment such as the MEWP, that system should have included daily pre-use checks, intermediate inspections and maintenance based on manufacturer recommendations and six monthly thorough examinations carried out by a competent person independent of the MEWP owner.

“The competence and diligence of a thorough examiner is vital as it is they who declare the MEWP safe to use. JM Access Solutions Ltd failed to carry out a diligent thorough examination and declared the MEWP safe to use.

“The British Standard provides guidance on what an examination should include following a major repair on a MEWP structure. Non-destructive testing and load testing should have been carried out and overload testing discussed with the manufacturer.

“This tragic accident should highlight the absolute duty for owners of MEWPS to maintain them to ensure continued safe operation.”

*Image for illustrative purpose only.