Work accident news
29/04/2010

Teenager crushed to death at work

A teenager from Aberdeen was killed after being crushed to death in a work accident, a court was told.

The 18-year-old was found crushed by 20 sheets of MDF board, weighing more than half a ton, on December 13, 2006.

The apprentice plumber had been working on his own in the building at Old Mill, York Place, when he arrived at the building around noon.

Paramedics arrived shortly after he was found but were unable to resuscitate him and he was pronounced dead at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary shortly after.

His employers were put on trial for failing to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees. They were also accused of failing to take reasonable measures to reduce risks to health and safety, leaving unsecured MDF sheets propped against a wall and failing to provide instruction, training and supervision.

The post-mortem of the worker indicated the cause of death as "traumatic asphyxia, whereby his chest and neck where compressed by a considerable weight of fibreboard."

The court has yet to decide if relatives of the deceased worker will receive work accident compensation for his fatal personal injuries.