BLYTH Marble Limited has been fined £50,000 after a worker was killed when granite slabs fell from a lorry loader at the company’s premises in Larkhall.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard that on 4 September 2024, Steven White, 61, was offloading granite slabs from a lorry loader at Blyth Marble Limited’s premises in Larkhall. Mr White was working on top of the flatbed section of the lorry when two granite slabs – with a combined weight of over 900 kilograms – fell and struck him, causing fatal injuries.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that vertical safety posts, which provide a physical barrier to prevent slabs from toppling, had been removed during the offloading operation. While it was accepted custom and practice for the posts to remain fitted during offloading it was not specified in the company’s safe system of work, HSE said.
The investigation also found that while lifting two slabs at once was regular practice, the company’s safe system of work failed to distinguish between single slab lifting and multiple slab lifting and lacked specific instruction for handling multiple slabs. Additionally, Mr White was working alone on the lorry loader, whereas the safe system of work specified that two people should be involved in offloading operations.
Blyth Marble Limited, based in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £50,000 with a victim surcharge of £3,750 at Hamilton Sheriff Court.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE principal inspector Martin McMahon, said, “This was a tragic incident which could have been prevented had the company made sure the appropriate safety measures were in place and followed during offloading operations.
“Employers must ensure that safe systems of work are not only in place but are sufficiently detailed to address all foreseeable risks, including the requirement for safety equipment to remain in position and for adequate personnel to be present during hazardous operations.
“Our thoughts remain with Steven White’s loved ones, and we hope today’s verdict offers them a measure of closure.”
