Construction company fined £160,000 after man crushed to death on site

A house-building company has been fined £160,000 after a man was crushed by a telehandler at a building site.

Scott Bradley, 44, had been using the telehandler to move scaffolding behind houses that had been partially built when it slid down an embankment and overturned on May 11 2022.

He was working for Merchant Homes Partnership Limited, which an investigation later found had not risk-assessed the traffic route on the site at Stepford Road in Glasgow.

Mr Bradley died from crush injuries at the scene, despite attempts to save him.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Police Scotland found Merchant Homes Partnership Limited, the principal contractor at the site, had not risk assessed the traffic route where the incident occurred.

HSE inspector James Caren said: “This was a tragic incident and our thoughts remain with the friends and family of Mr Bradley.

“Our investigation discovered that Merchant Homes Partnership Limited had failed in its duty to properly risk-assess and introduce measures to ensure the traffic route was suitable for the telehandler being driven by Mr Bradley. As a result of this, the telehandler’s wheels went over the edge of the traffic route while it was being reversed, which tragically led to the vehicle overturning.”

Merchant Homes Partnership Limited, of George Square, Glasgow, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 27(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. The company was fined £160,000 at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

The firm has been contacted for comment.