Final submissions into the death of an island lorry driver have been lodged at a fatal accident inquiry.
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-
Procurator fiscal David Teale submitted the tragedy occurred as the truck was reversing back up the uneven pier access road, at a point where the lorry was lower on the driver’s side.
He believed the crane jib was extended over the front cab with a load still on its hook totalling 4.5 tonnes, close to its 4.89 tonne capacity.
Difficulty in separating nets piled on top of another may have resulted in him hooking on two nets instead of one, submitted the fiscal.
However, Mr Buchanan had no problem in moving other nets from the pier to the roadside immediately beforehand, he added.
Mr Teale suggested having no obstacles on the pier -
Other measures which could have avoid the tragedy were leaving the dirty nets in a safe spot for lorry access as well as separating them with suitable lifting points.
Judith Hutchison, the lawyer representing Buchanan Brothers, submitted Mr Buchanan had shifted other nets safely that same morning.
She said the haulage firm’s lack of a health and safety policy did not contribute to the accident.
There were no defects on the crane or lorry which contributed to the incident, she pointed out.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector earlier told the inquiry the net lifting
job was suitable for a sole-
However, as a result of the accident, people are now banned from working alone under new safety rules from the Scottish Salmon Company.
Solicitor for the fish-
Sheriff James Scott is to return a determination later.
Combination of factors contributed to driver’s tragic death
7 March 2015