Firm is fined after trainee electrocuted
Surveyor’s pole touched power line
Published:
AN ENGINEERING company has been fined after an employee was electrocuted by an overhead power cable.
Russell Donald, who was a trainee engineer with WA Fairhurst and Partners, was found dead at McIntosh Plant Hire at Birchmoss, near Echt, by his father, Brian, after a pole he was using to carry out surveying work made contact with a power line on February 1, 2007.
His bosses were aware that 20-year-old Mr Donald was missing, but had not been able to find him, and his father mounted his own search.
WA Fairhurst, whose address was given as 11 Woodside Terrace, Glasgow, admitted failing to instruct him that it was inappropriate to use a long surveying pole near electric lines.
The firm was fined £25,200 at Stonehaven Sheriff Court.
“An investigation found that Fairhurst had given Russell Donald training and he had been advised to watch out for overhead power lines,” fiscal depute Neil Shand told the court. “At no point did they instruct it was inappropriate to use the pole in the vicinity of power lines and this failure caused Russell Donald’s death.”
Mr Donald had worked with the company for two years. Sheriff Kenneth Hogg expressed his sympathy to Mr Donald’s family and said his judgment was a criminal one and in no way placed a monetary value on his death.
The partnership declined to comment.
Mr Donald lived with his parents in Queens Road, Aberdeen.
His mother, Lindsay, 49, described her son as an “exceptional young man”.
She said he had been heavily involved in community work and had planned to retrain as a history teacher.
“He was a special boy,” she said. “His loss will leave a huge hole in the lives of those who knew and loved him.”
Mr Donald is also survived by his father, brother Gavin, 22, and sister Louise, 12.
Issues
Scottish Hydro Electric was also charged with breaking health-and-safety legislation after it was claimed the power lines were 15ft 8in off the ground at their lowest point. The charge stated this was not a sufficient height.
The trial against the company collapsed on August 26 and a jury of nine men and six women was told this was because of “legal issues”.
WA Fairhurst and Partners was fined two months ago but reporting restrictions were put in place because the Crown was considering bringing fresh charges against Scottish Hydro Electric. The Crown Office has said no further proceedings will now be taken against the power giant.
