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An inquiry into the death of a island man who died after his lorry toppled over heard he was safety conscious.

 

Steven Buchanan of Lionacleit, Benbecula, died following the accident on a narrow pier access road by Scottish Salmon Company (SSC) shore base at Locheport in North Uist, in October 2013.

 

The 40-year-old was at the site to collect heavy bundles of salmon farm nets for cleaning at a net washing station.

 

Mr Buchanan worked for his father’s haulage and transport company, Buchanan Brothers. They also run a local coach company and Steven Buchanan regularly drove the school bus.

 

Two nets weighing over 4.5 tonnes were still attached to the hook of the flatbed lorry at the scene, the fatal accident inquiry at Lochmaddy Sheriff Court was told.

 

His father, John Alick Buchanan, said normal practice was to move one net at a time.

 

The salmon company told the firm there was three nets when there were five.

Lawyer Judith Hutchison, representing Buchanan Brothers, indicated Mr Buchanan jun would have assumed there was only one net left when there was actually tow.

 

She pointed out: “That would be twice the load.”

 

Mr Buchanan senior told her it was very difficult to distinguish nets within a pile.

 

He said his son was a very competent crane operator, attended safety courses and would “boss me” about implementing good health and safety practices at work.

 

He agreed with the solicitor that Steven Buchanan was concerned with safety issues and “wanted things done properly.”

 

They both voluntarily attended training and safety meetings involving crane and lifting operations with SSE, another client.

 

As a small company with under five staff, they agreed to adopt SSC’s health and safety procedures - but they never received the document from the fish farmer, said Mr Buchanan.

 

Judith Hutchison asked: “What did they give you in terms of their health and safety information.”

 

“Nothing,” replied Mr Buchanan.

 

Fatal accident inquiry into lorry driver’s death

 3 March 2015