The Scottish Salmon Company (SSC) changed its safety practices following the death of a contracted lorry driver at a fish farm shore base in North Uist, in October 2013.
Steven Buchanan, 40, of Lionacleit, Benbecula, died after his crane-
Mr Buchanan worked for his father’s haulage and transport company, Buchanan Brothers, which was hired by SSC to remove the nets.
Salmon farmer changed safety practices after death
5 March 2015
The salmon company was unaware the that a lorry mounted crane was being used at the site, a fatal accident inquiry in Lochmaddy Sheriff Court was told yesterday.
Anthony Dunn, health and safety manager for SSC, said the firm did not own crane lorries so there was no assessment of their safe use.
He told Judith Hutchison, the lawyer representing Buchanan Brothers, he was “not aware they were doing net lifting operations until the day of the incident.”
Mr Dunn said the firm “revised and reintroduced” measures for contractors because of the fatality.
Farm site manager Archie MacCorquodale told procurator fiscal David Teale that people are now banned from working alone on the site.
Mr MacCorquodale added: “We now have written lifting plans and risk assessments on any operation.”
Earlier, he highlighted net lifting was a “fairly commonplace” task and, in his experience, Buchanan Brothers’ method was no different to other companies.
He said the platform of the toppled flatbed lorry was wet indicating dirty nets had been loaded onboard at some point that morning.
Health and Safety Executive mechanical engineering inspector, Peter Dodd, told procurator fiscal David Teale he concluded the load was lifted, probably from the front of the vehicle before it slewed.
He added: “Without stabilisers down the lorry has become unstable and tipped over.”
He agreed it would require very little to topple the lorry without the jacks deployed.
Mr Dodd also acknowledged there was no room for error for the lorry to hoist a load at the confined space on the pier.
Representing the salmon farmer, solicitor Clare Bone, highlighted the inquiry had heard of the possibility of the truck reversing back up the pier access road with its jib extended over the front cab, dragging a net.
The inquiry before Sheriff James Scott continues.