First Engineering fined £200k after employee crushed to death

First Engineering Ltd has been fined £200,000 at Glasgow Sheriff Court following the death of an employee nearly two years ago.

Alexander Somerville was killed in November 2002 after a lifting operation went wrong.

Somerville and a colleague were lifting 2t of railway sleepers at the company's Finnieston premises in Glasgow  when the load held by sling slipped and fell on top of the 55-year-old.

He died later in hospital from the crush injuries he sustained.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard evidence of company deficiencies in the areas of training, equipment and instruction.

In response First Engeineering said that it had acted immediately to improve its health and safety practices.