Builder killed as telehandler overturns

Scott Bradley had been reversing the vehicle at the Stepford Road site when it slid down an embankment and overturned on 11 May 2022.

The 44-year-old, employed by Merchant Homes Partnership Limited, had been using the telehandler to move scaffolding behind houses that had been partially built.

Despite the efforts of colleagues and the emergency services, Bradley died from crush injuries at the scene.

An HSE and Police Scotland investigation found Merchant Homes Partnership Limited, the principal contractor at the site, had not risk assessed the traffic route where the incident occurred.

HSE inspector James Caren said: “This was a tragic incident and our thoughts remain with the friends and family of Mr Bradley.

“Our investigation discovered that Merchant Homes Partnership Limited had failed in its duty to properly risk assess and introduce measures to ensure the traffic route was suitable for the telehandler being driven by Mr Bradley.

As a result of this, the telehandler’s wheels went over the edge of the traffic route while it was being reversed, which tragically led to the vehicle overturning.”

Merchant Homes Partnership Limited, of Glasgow, pleaded guilty to safety breaches and was fined £160,000 at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

The £22m-turnover business went into liquidation in December 2023.