West Dunbartonshire Council has been convicted of safety failures after two workers sustained serious injuries when a maintenance truck overturned on a golf course in Clydebank.
Donald McCandless and Alan McGrath were collecting flags from around the course when the all-terrain vehicle slipped on toppled backwards. Both were thrown from the truck, which had no seatbelts or roll protection at Dalmuir Golf Club in July 2018.
Driver McCandless, 62, suffered a spinal fracture after the all-terrain vehicle rolled over him and passenger McGrath, 39, sustained a broken leg, dislocated ankle and a severe laceration to the leg after it landed on top of him.
According to investigators, no risk assessment had been carried out in relation to the vehicle and there appeared to be no steps taken by the council to install seat belts or protection.
The court heard there were two similar vehicles at the premises, both of which did contain seatbelts and crash protection.
The council admitted two breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act, but was fined just £8,000 after the judge acknowledged the council was a not-for-profit organisation and had co-operated fully with the accident investigation and safety recommendations.
According to the Daily Record, both men made a phased return to work following their recoveries.
A spokesperson for West Dunbartonshire Council said: “We are committed to the health and safety of all of our employees and are sorry this incident occurred.
“Lessons have been learned and a number of measures have been put in place including providing additional training and enhancing vehicles to ensure the safety of our employees.
“We have also fully complied with the HSE recommendations.”
