A workman crushed to death when a dumper truck overturned might have been saved if he was wearing a seatbelt, a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) has concluded.
Marcel Daisley, 37, died in the accident at a building site on Banbeath Road, Leven, where drinks company Diageo’s now-established new bottling hall was being built.
Police officers, called to the scene at about 12.50pm on August 26 2010, tried to save the married father-of-two, who was known as Jason, but he died from his injuries.
Mr Daisley who was born and brought up in Falkirk, was driving the dumper truck when it overturned.
The then Fife Constabulary launched an investigation and an FAI was held.
A determination published by Sheriff AG McCulloch concluded that the cause of death was crushing chest injuries, blunt force trauma and entrapment beneath the dumper truck.
The victim, who worked for West Lothian-based Ground Developments Ltd, was reversing the nine-tonne dumper truck over the edge of a 1.8 metre-high excavated area when he was thrown from his seat on to the ground then crushed by the roll over protection system attached to the vehicle.
The sheriff concluded that the death might have been avoided by the wearing of the seatbelt fitted to the dumper truck, the keeping of a proper look-out by Mr Daisley while reversing the dumper truck and the restriction to a minimum of any distance travelled in reverse.
It also concluded that the accident might have been avoided had barriers been placed in a continuous line about two metres parallel to the edges of the excavation, whereby Mr Daisley may have realised sooner that he was close to the edge and taken action to prevent the fall into the excavated area.
The determination stated: “Although some witnesses had their own theories, the reason for the deceased driving as he did will remain unknown.
“The dumper truck was examined in detail shortly after the accident and no defects were found.
“Two witnesses saw the dumper as it went over the edge.
“It was travelling more or less directly towards (the site manager) who spoke of it seeming to veer to its right as it came over the edge and down.”
It continued: “Dumper truck training confirmed that reversing was to be kept to a minimum, just sufficiently far so as to be able to move forwards.
“It also confirmed the importance of staying away from the edges of excavations and of keeping a good look-out.
“There was sufficient room between the screener and the spoil pile for dumpers to work, without having to encroach within six metres of the edge. The edge was clearly visible and obvious even without barriers.”
The report added: “The most obvious precaution which could have avoided death was the wearing of the fitted seatbelt by the deceased.”
The Courier contacted Ground Developments Ltd but the company declined to comment.