Fatal forklift accident on Scots hydro scheme

A man killed in an industrial accident at a major Highland construction project was a foreign worker, it emerged last night.

It is understood that Northern Constabulary is attempting to make contact with the 46-year-old’s family in Eastern Europe, and until then they will not reveal his identity. The man was working at the Glendoe hydro-electric scheme near Fort Augustus when the accident, which involved a vehicle, happened on Monday morning.

He was employed by Swindon-based Hochtief, the main contractor on the site.

Work at the £150million project, run by Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), was halted as a mark of respect following the tragedy, which was reported to the emergency services at 8.20am.

Yesterday, SSE confirmed that work had restarted at the site, with workers on Monday’s night-shift being the first back.

A spokeswoman said: “Between ourselves and Hochtief, and following discussions with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), it was decided to start work up again on the night shift last night. That was really so that shift patterns were not disrupted.”

A spokesman for the HSE said an investigation into Monday’s incident was continuing, and officers spent yesterday interviewing people on the site. The death came just weeks after First Minister Alex Salmond visited the scheme and “plugged” the dam.

It is the largest civil engineering project in Scotland and employees hundreds of people.

Article created by Editor. (info@safetynetscotland.co.uk)