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A FIRM that admitted its part in the deaths of two Argyll fish farm workers was yesterday fined £600,000 at Oban Sheriff Court.
Scottish Sea Farms employees Rab MacDonald, from Appin, and Maarten Den Heijer, from Oban, died on May 11, 2009, after succumbing to a lack of oxygen in a confined space below the deck of a floating storage barge on Loch Creran, near Barcaldine, Argyll.
Another Oban man, Campbell Files, had also fallen unconscious but recovered at Lorn and Islands Hospital in Oban.
The court had previously heard how Mr MacDonald, Mr Files and Mr Den Heijer had gone into a lower deck chamber of the barge with engineer Arthur Raikes, employed by Logan Inglis Ltd, to fix a hydraulic crane.
Mr Files entered the confined space first, followed by Mr Raikes, who climbed back up the ladder into the hold after feeling disorientated and short of breath.
He saw Mr Files unconscious below and informed Mr MacDonald, who put on a respirator and went to help his colleague. After moving him to a seated position Mr MacDonald was seen to sit down and stopped responding to calls from colleagues above. Mr Den Heijer went to his aid but collapsed as soon as he reached the bottom of the chamber.
Scottish Sea Farms had previously admitted failing to provide a risk assessment, sufficient training, nor a system of work where confined spaces were concerned.
Engineering company Logan Inglis Ltd had also pleaded guilty to failing to provide a risk assessment, or adequate training to employee Arthur Raikes and was fined £40,000.
Sheriff Douglas Small, who accepted both companies had previously held excellent health and safety records, discounted the punishments for Scottish Sea Farms Ltd and Logan Inglis Ltd from £900,000 and £60,000 respectively after they both tendered guilty pleas at the first opportunity.
Commenting at the conclusion of the case HSE Principal Inspector Barry Baker said: “These two men were trying to help save their colleague’s life when they tragically lost their own. Aquaculture is an important industry in Scotland and one that we can be very proud of; however, we must not forget that the marine environment is dangerous and unforgiving.
“Since September 2007 the Marine Accident Investigation Branch has started three investigations into incidents in which a total of six seafarers have died in confined spaces.
“The deaths in this case should have been avoided – the risks should have been identified and a clear and safe system of work prepared. Only those fully trained in confined space work and emergency rescue should have carried out the work in the chamber, and only after a full risk assessment including air monitoring and testing for oxygen levels.”
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