A national sawmill firm has been fined £34,000 after an employee plunged through the roof at its Angus plant.
Gavin Mills fell almost five metres to the ground through a rooflight while sweeping sawdust at James Jones & Sons Ltd’s premises on the outskirts of Kirriemuir in 2012.
Aged 50 at the time, Mr Mills fell backwards on to his buttocks, shattering his pelvis and fracturing his arm.
A Health and Safety Executive investigation found safety procedures at the plant were “insufficient” and the practice of sending employees up to the roof with brooms to brush off sawdust carried a high and foreseeable risk of injury.
Appearing for the firm at Forfar Sheriff Court, solicitor Victoria Anderson said the incident surprised company directors, who were unaware of the practice and had since banned it.
The senior procurator fiscal depute at the Crown Office’s health and safety division, Gavin Callaghan, said Mr Mills fell 4.94 metres after stepping on a rooflight that was obscured by sawdust.
He said: “He was sent to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee and remained there for nine days. He cannot use his arm as much as he used to … and the GP diagnosed arthritis.”
Despite returning to work, the employee is “still apprehensive” when dealing with heights.
Mr Callaghan said the task was not appropriately supervised, and the sawmill manager’s safety certificate for overhead operations expired in 2007.
Harnesses and lanyards were used at waist level to anchor workers to a mobile platform as they swept, but this should have been connected overhead and the depute fiscal said the harness was of “no benefit at all” in the event of a fall.
The firm admitted an indictment alleging failure to ensure work at height was properly planned and supervised between October 1 2010 and October 29 2012, when Mr Mills fell.
The court heard the firm, which has its base in Larbert, had been fined for two previous safety convictions at sheriff court summary level, relating to saw guard offences in Dumfries.
Two senior employees, Tim Davidson and Neil Sneddon, updated practices at the firm and were in attendance at court.
Ms Anderson said: “The company directors have a deep and sincerely held regret this accident took place.
“They have accepted from the outset the failings which contributed to this accident. It was not known at senior management or board level that employees were being asked to clear roof surfaces themselves.”
Ms Anderson said a raft of measures, costing £240,000, had been brought in to eliminate the need for roof clearance.
Sheriff Pino Di Emidio considered a fine of £50,000 but applied a “full discount” for a prompt plea, and allowed 28 days to pay.