Construction Company Fined £160,000 Following Worker’s Death

A construction firm has been ordered to pay a £160,000 fine after a man was fatally injured by a construction vehicle that slid down an embankment and overturned. Scott Bradley was crushed by a telehandler during the incident, which occurred on 11 May 2022, at a housing development located in Lochwood Gardens, Easterhouse, near Glasgow. The 44-year-old sustained a fatal head injury when he was partially ejected from the cab and subsequently crushed by the vehicle. Merchant Homes Partnership Limited admitted guilt to violating construction regulations and health and safety legislation at a hearing held at Glasgow Sheriff Court. Prosecutors stated that Mr Bradley had been operating the telehandler—a vehicle designed for lifting heavy loads on site—to transport scaffolding components behind partially built houses. While the vehicle was being reversed, its wheels went over the edge of the embankment, causing it to overturn. The court heard that Mr Bradley, who resided in Larkhall with his wife and family, was an experienced telehandler driver and was described by his colleagues as “safety conscious”. An investigation conducted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) determined that the Glasgow-based company had not conducted a risk assessment for the “traffic route” where the incident took place. HSE inspector James Caren commented that Merchant Homes—which has since entered liquidation—had failed to implement measures to ensure the route was suitable for use. Procurator Fiscal Richard Brown, prosecuting, informed the court that there were concerns regarding the untidiness of the site and “multiple examples” of uneven ground, which meant scaffolding was not properly supported. He said: “The unevenness of the road increased the risk of wheeled plant becoming unstable and tipping.” This included the possibility of it falling down the embankment, he added. The hearing was told that Merchant Homes complied with improvement notices issued at the time of the investigation. Sheriff Louise Arrol KC stated at the sentencing: “In this case, the harm caused could not have been greater.” “It is the consequence of the company’s failure that Mr Bradley lost his life.” “His family have been devastated by his death – he was an experienced operative and colleagues spoke highly of him.” She added: “The sentence which I have imposed is not in any way commensurate his loss.”