Personal injury news

Scottish dock owners fined following work accident

The owners of a Scottish docks have been fined a six-figure sum after a work accident left an employee with leg, arm and shoulder injuries.

Robert Harrower was struck by a crane while working at Leith Docks in Edinburgh in December 2004 and was forced to take a week off work because of his personal injuries. He had been inspecting the crane after an unusual noise had been heard, but was struck by a bolt on the drive shaft when it swung unexpectedly.

The drive shaft should have been fitted with a guard, the court heard, and failure to do so caused Mr Harrower's personal injuries.

Fort Ports, the dock owners, were found guilty of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Regulations and were ordered to pay a fine of £200,000 as a result of the work accident.