Site closed after death

WORKERS at the gas plant construction site in Shetland stopped work for 24 hours last night out of respect after the sudden death of a co-worker.

Police confirmed on Thursday that 53 year old Neil McGlaughlin, from Cheshire, was reported to have died at the Sella Ness accommodation block at 12.30pm on Wednesday.

The man’s death is not work related and police said there were no suspicious circumstances, but a report is being submitted to the procurator fiscal.

It is understood he worked for welding sub contractor Orion and had only started work in Shetland last Friday.

A spokesman for main contractor Petrofac said that construction workers on Wednesday’s night shift and Thursday’s day shift had not attended work as a mark of respect and the site had remained closed.

“This is a tragedy and our sympathies are with the family and friends of the deceased,” he said.

“We have made an offer of support to the family via our subcontractor and are deploying additional specialist resources to the site to support staff.

“This is the subject of an ongoing police investigation and as such we are unable to comment on the circumstances.”