Two companies have been fined a total of £640,000 after an accident during work to repair a hydraulic crane on a barge moored at a salmon farm on Loch Creran, Argyll and Bute.
Two fish farm workers died after going to the aid of a fellow worker who had passed out whilst working below deck in a confined space where oxygen levels were very low. The engineer working with him on the project had managed to climb back up after feeling disorientated and short of breath. The two workers who attempted to rescue the man left below deck also lost consciousness and, whilst their colleague was resuscitated, attempts by the emergency services to revive them were unsuccessful.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Inspectors found that Scottish Sea Farms had failed to provide suitable information, instruction or training for employees working in the small sealed chambers of the barge or to establish a safe way for them to work. Logan Inglis Ltd. had not provided information, instruction or training for its engineers on working in such conditions, nor made them aware of the risks involved. Neither company had carried out an assessment of the risks to their employees of working in the chambers.
Both companies pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Scottish Sea Farms was fined £600,000 and Logan Inglis Ltd. was fined £40,000.
HSE Principal Inspector Barry Baker said, “The deaths in this case should have been avoided – the risks should have been identified and a clear and safe system of work prepared. Only those fully trained in confined space work and emergency rescue should have carried out the work in the chamber, and only after a full risk assessment including air monitoring and testing for oxygen levels.”
Contact <<CONTACT DETAILS>> for advice on any health and safety law matter.