A construction company and security firm have admitted breaching health and safety rules following the death of a 74-year-old wind farm security guard in 2018.
Farrans Construction-parent Northstone (NI) Ltd and security firm Corporate Services Management pled guilty at Ayr Sheriff Court of failing to provide a reliable source of back-up heating at the Afton wind farm site, near New Cumnock, in January 2018, according to the court.
The companies admitted they also failed to provide an adequate system of communication so their staff could contact the emergency services and failed to ensure there was a plan in place to evacuate the security guards in an emergency, added the court.
Ronnie Alexander, who was working for Corporate Services Management as a security guard at the project, died in hospital of hypothermia after being exposed to extreme weather conditions while on duty in January 2018.
Solicitors representing Mr Alexander’s family said the tragedy happened on 21 January 2018, the same day the Met Office issued a yellow “be aware” warning for heavy snow in the area.
Mr Alexander’s family has now launched a civil action calling for all industries to improve care and support measures for remote workers.
In a statement Northstone said: “Northstone accepts that on this occasion at Afton wind farm we did not meet the high health and safety standards that we seek to achieve to protect our employees, customers, clients, subcontractors and communities.
“We took immediate action on the Afton Windfarm project to prevent a re-occurrence. As part of our internal investigation and the subsequent findings of this investigation we have reviewed and improved our risk control processes across the business.
“We deeply regret that this resulted in the death of Mr. Ronald Alexander. Our thoughts and sincerest sympathies remain with his family and friends.”
Sentencing was deferred until next month.