Yell firm in court over fatality

A SHETLAND haulage company has been charged with breaching health and safety regulations following the death of a lorry driver almost four years ago.

Geoffrey Davies, aged 57, of Scraefield, Balliasta, Unst, was crushed by a forklift truck as he was unloading it from a lorry at a local mussel factory on Saturday 13 February 2010.

Police and health and safety executive officers flew to Shetland to investigate the incident, which took place at Ordale, near Baltasound, Unst.

On Thursday lawyers appeared at lerwick Sheriff Court on behalf of the victim’s employers RS Henderson, of Cullivoe, Yell, who deny two charges.

The family firm denies failing to make a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for the lorry driver making the delivery between 9 and 13 February 2010.

They also deny failing to ensure their health, safety and welfare of their employees on the same dates at Henderson’s premises at Cullivoe, at the premises of RE Watt, on Lerwick’s Gremista industrial estate and elsewhere on the same dates.

Specifically the company is accused of failing to provide and maintain a safe system for loading and unloading a forklift truck on and off a lorry, or providing information, instruction or training for such a task.

The charge says that the forklift truck was driven down lorry ramps that were too steep and slippery for it to maintain sufficient traction, so it toppled over and crushed the lorry driver who died from his injuries.

The case was deferred until 27 November for legal arguments to be heard, after which a trial date will be set.