A Scottish firm has been fined £50,000 after a dad was killed when collapsing wall panels ejected him from a scissor lift.
Steven Tervit, 32, was working around four metres above the ground when he was thrown on to the concrete floor of a warehouse.
The dad suffered a traumatic brain injury, broken ribs, lung injuries and fractures to his right thigh bone and left shin bone.
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He was rushed to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow but tragically died the following day, as reported by Need To Know.
Food Process Engineering Limited has now been fined after an investigation found it failed to adequately assess and manage the risks of the dismantling work.
The Hamilton-based company pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act at Paisley Sheriff Court.
It was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay a £3,750 victim surcharge on 6 July.
Steven’s heartbroken mum Mary has since paid tribute to her son in an emotional Facebook post.
She wrote: “Seeing my son’s death in the paper has brought back memories for me, Rab, Chris and the kids and all his injuries.
“I will never be the same.
“I miss my son so much.
“I wish I could have him back.
“I am totally lost without him.
“He was one in a million.
“Life is so cruel.
“Love you always my son, me and your dad Chris and the kids and not forgetting grandad Duncan.”
The fatal accident happened at the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland at Westway Business Park in Renfrew on 9 November, 2022.
Steven, who had worked for Food Process Engineering Limited for around 15 years, was helping dismantle a cleanroom that had previously housed a welding robot.
The structure had a steel frame with walls and a roof made from polyurethane panels measuring 6.1 metres high.
Steven was removing wall panels from a scissor lift when the remaining panels collapsed and struck the platform.
He was then thrown from the lift onto the warehouse floor.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found the company had failed to adequately assess and manage the risks linked to dismantling a structure it had not originally installed.
Once the roof was removed, the remaining wall panels did not have enough lateral support to remain structurally stable.
The company’s risk assessment and method statement also failed to adequately address the danger of an unplanned collapse caused by structural instability.
Its own method statement specified that “A-frame” props or supports should be installed where necessary.
But no such props were present or being used at the time of the accident.
The company had visually inspected the outside of the cleanroom before starting the work and proceeded on the assumption that it had been constructed to industry standards.
HSE found the assumption was unsafe because dismantling a structure built by a third party carried a risk of latent defects that could increase the chance of structural failure.
Investigators also found the company failed to communicate its risk assessment and method statement to workers carrying out the job.
Food Process Engineering Limited pleaded guilty to breaching sections 2(1), 2(a) and (c), and 33(1)(a) and (c) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
HSE inspector Amna Doherty said: “The failings of this company cost a much-loved husband, father and son his life.
“Falls from height remain the leading cause of workplace death and injury.
“There was a lack of planning in terms of the risk and those being tasked with the job were not aware of the dangers posed to them.
“We will not hesitate to take action against those who fail to protect their workers.”
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