An oil services company has been fined £2,000 after a worker was knocked unconscious when he fell from raised pipes.
Oil States Industries (UK) Limited admitted breaching health and safety rules when the case against it called at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday.
The firm failed to ensure work was not carried out at height between September 28, 2010, and November 28, 2013.
The court heard that on the day of the accident an employee for an agency called Cover Crew was working at Cairnrobin Pipe Yard, Portlethen.
Despite the job’s “materials supervisor” being aware that no one should work on top of the stacked pipes, the worker, William Fabiani, climbed aboard.
It is thought that the height of the “stows” was about 10ft tall.
Mr Fabiani lost his balance and fell backwards off the top and onto the first level of pipes below him.
He was tended to by his colleagues while they waited for an ambulance. It is thought he was unconscious for about three minutes as a result of striking his head. He also suffered a cut to the back of his head which was bleeding.
He was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where he was examined and x-rays were taken. The cut to the back of his head was stitched.
Sentencing the company, of 1 Blackness Road, Altens Industrial Estate, Aberdeen, Sheriff William Taylor said it was obvious that the management team had taken the incident very seriously.
As a result of the accident all working at height was stopped immediately and the company no longer uses agency workers.
They had also disclosed the financial state of the business and were honest in saying they could afford to pay a fine of up to £20,000.
However, the sheriff said he believed that the accident was at the lower end of the scale and therefore did not deserve the maximum penalty.
Instead, Oil States Industries UK Limited was fined £2,000.