 |
|
|
Shocking news of the death in Scotland of a 60-year-old construction worker shortly before lunc time today - Workers Memorial Day!
As if to bring into sharp focus that deaths at work continues to blight the workplace and to remind us that health & safety legislation in the UK is of paramount importance to the lives and welfare of working people in this country.
BBC News website reports:
The man is understood to have been hit by the moving boom on a crane at about 12:20 on the deck of the north tower.
It is understood the man suffered severe blood loss and he was unable to be resuscitated.
Work has stopped for investigations to take place. The bridge is due for completion by the end of the year.
The £1.4bn crossing was ordered by ministers because of corrosion of the main suspension cable on the Forth Road Bridge.
Work started in 2011 and the death is thought to be the first fatality at the site.
Harry Frew, Ucatt Scottish regional secretary, said his thoughts were with the man's family.
He told the BBC Scotland news website:
"We were just on our way back from a Worker's Memorial Day ceremony in Glasgow Green to commemorate workers who have been killed at work when we heard the news. I am very saddened about this tragedy and our thoughts are with his family."
A Forth Replacement Crossing spokesman said:
"We are deeply saddened to have to confirm there was an incident just before noon on 28 April on the Queensferry Crossing's north tower in which a person has lost his life.
One other person has been taken to hospital. All activity has been stopped at the north tower. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of our colleague and co-worker at this time."
A UCATT press release issued this afternoon says:
The ongoing dangers in the construction industry have been tragically highlighted today (April 28th) following the death of a work on the New Queensferry Crossing on the Forth. It is understood that a 60 year old worker was killed after he was hit by the boom of a crane he was directing. The worker suffered severe blood loss, he was taken off site but could not be resuscitated.
Harry Frew Regional Secretary for UCATT Scotland, said:
“UCATT sends its sincere condolences to the family of the worker who has suffered this tragic accident. It is impossible to imagine how they must be feeling.” The fatality is particularly poignant as it occurred today (Thursday 28th April) on Workers’ Memorial Day. This is the day when workers across the world come together to remember the dead and vow to fight like hell for the living. Mr Frew, added: “UCATT will be doing everything it can to find out how and why this accident occurred and to ensure that similar fatalities are prevented in the future.”
Source: BBC / UCATT
|
|
|
Designed, Hosted and Maintained by Union Safety Services
|
