Farming firm fined £12,000 after worker fell from barn roof

A farming firm has been fined £12,000 after a worker fell from a barn roof.

Messrs Finlay McGowan admitted breaching health and safety laws.

Perth Sheriff Court heard that James Bridge was admitted to hospital with a fractured skull and bleeding near his brain following the incident.

Depute fiscal Emma Stewart said Mr Bridge and a colleague, David Mills, had been cleaning the gutters on several buildings at Shealwalls Farm, near Alyth.

They had not been issued with instructions by their employers, their work was unsupervised and neither man had been trained to work at height or on fragile roof surfaces.

Mr Bridge stepped on a skylight and fell more than three metres to the ground.

The firm pleaded guilty to failing to ensure work at height was properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe manner.

Sheriff Fiona Tait reduced the fine from £18,000 to take account of the firm’s guilty plea and gave it 28 days to pay.