A 61-year-old father has been crushed to death in a tragic workplace incident after two heavy granite slabs fell onto him from a lorry.
A Fatal Incident in Larkhall
Steven White, a father-of-one from Lanarkshire, was fatally injured while working for Blyth Marble Ltd in Larkhall. The accident occurred in September last year as Mr White was involved in offloading stone materials.
The court heard that he was standing on a lorry using a mechanical lift when two blocks of granite, with a combined weight of 95kg, toppled over and struck him. Emergency services rushed to the scene but, despite the best efforts of paramedics, Steven White was pronounced dead at his workplace.
Company Admits Safety Failings
Blyth Marble Ltd, one of the UK's largest stockists of stone materials including marble and granite, recently appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court in South Lanarkshire. The company admitted it had breached health and safety regulations.
Fiscal depute Blair Speed told the court that a failure in the safe system of work led to the fatal injuries. He explained that the slab lifter had been positioned in a way that caused the granite to tilt forwards, prompting Mr White to jump from the lorry. As a crane operator continued to raise ropes, the slabs fell from the lift and struck him.
A key safety failing was identified: instructions on using 'safety posts' to prevent slabs from toppling were not written down anywhere, creating a significantly increased risk. Equipment checks after the accident confirmed the machinery itself was in working order.
Condolences and Safety Improvements
In court, Barry Smith KC, defending the company, expressed the director's sincerest condolences to Steven White's family. He stated that the company recognises the hazards of its work and that lessons had been learned.
"The company recognises that the work it undertakes involves hazards and this must be controlled, but it is of uppermost regret that their efforts were not enough and that this tragedy occurred," Mr Smith said. "Lessons have been learned, and improvements on safety have been made."
The firm, which has been trading since 1969 and has a head office in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, has since updated its safety procedures. Sheriff Michael Higgins deferred sentencing until next month, stating he needed time to consider all the information.
