Construction worker crushed to death after vehicle fell down embankment

A construction worker was killed after a vehicle he was operating fell down an embankment, a court heard.

Scott Bradley, 44, suffered a fatal head injury after the tragic incident at the new-build development in Lochwood Gardens in Easterhouse, Glasgow, on May 11, 2022.

A probe was then immediately launched by Health and Safety officials.

Mr Bradley worked at the time for Glasgow-based Merchant Homes.

The firm – which has since gone into liquidation – were the principal contractors for the site in Easterhouse.

The investigation concluded that there were issues with a “traffic route” in an area Mr Bradley had been working in that day.

Merchant had failed to ensure it was suitable for plant vehicles and had not properly assessed any possible hazards.

It also emerged that previous concerns had been raised about the site.

Merchant has now pleaded guilty to a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

Mr Bradley lived with his wife and family in Larkhall, Lanarkshire.

He was an experienced telehandler driver – a vehicle used to lift heavy loads on site.

Mr Bradley was highly regarded, with colleagues remarking how “safety conscious” he was.

At the time, he was using the telehandler to move scaffolding parts.

Fiscal Richard Brown said: “While reversing, the right rear offside wheel of the telehandler slipped over the edge of the embankment.

“This caused the telehandler to flip and for Mr Bradley to be partially ejected from the cab and crushed.”

There was a witness in nearby playing fields who dialled 999.

This person then went through a gap in the fence to help Mr Bradley. Other site workers also rushed to his aid.

Mr Bradley was found to have a severe head injury.

Mercy crews arrived to try and free a now unconscious Mr Bradley from the telehandler.

They got him out, but sadly, he did not survive.

The Health and Safety Executive arrived and immediately had a number of concerns about site security and its tidiness.

There were also “multiple examples” of uneven ground meaning scaffolding was not properly supported.

A number of “improvement notices” were then issued.

The court heard there were “no risk assessments which considered the hazards and associated risks” of vehicles such as telehandlers on the traffic route where Mr Bradley had been working.

Mr Brown: “The unevenness of the road increased the risk of wheeled plant becoming unstable and tipping.”

This included the possibility of a vehicle falling down an embankment.

The hearing was told Merchant Homes complied with improvement notices issued at time of the investigation.

Sheriff Louise Arrol KC said she passed on her condolences to Mr Bradley’s family for their loss.

She will make her decision on what will happen to Merchant Homes at a hearing later this month.