75-Year Old Drives Off Pier’s Unprotected Car Park Edge
August 31st, 2010
Argyll and Bute Council has been fined £20,000 after a man fell off the unprotected edge of a car park operated by the council. The car park was located on a pier with a sheer plunge into the sea below.
In the tragic incident, 75-year old Duncan MacGillivray, accidentally hit the forward gear instead of the reverse as he was exiting the car park. This mistake cost him his life as the car went off the unprotected edge of the car park and feel three meters into the sea below. After getting trapped, he eventually succumbed. The incident took place on September 17, 2007.
Following an investigation by the HSE, it was found that the council had installed barriers only in certain zones of the pier. The area where Mr. MacGillivray had parked was missing any sort of protective barrier. The case was heard by the
HSE Inspector Mike Orr called the accident a tragic one where the victim suffered trauma before drowning. The accident could have been averted had the council taken suitable safety measures. He added that a risk assessment was necessary in this case as the safety hazard of an unprotected car park located on a pier was obvious to all and that the council had failed in its duty, leading to the unfortunate accident.
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