A council employee died after he was run over by a lorry pushed by his colleague, a sheriff has dominated. Keith Johnston, 52, was a part of a street upkeep workforce engaged on Orkney and had been supervising a closed junction.
However he left his submit whereas carrying ear guards to maneuver unfastened stone chips onto the resurfaced carriageway. His colleague Nicholas Darby reversed a tipper truck however did not see Johnston working with a leaf blower on the street and hit him.
Emergency providers raced to the scene in June 2017 however he couldn't be saved. A deadly accident inquiry at Kirkwall Sheriff Courtroom has now discovered the dying was avoidable.
Sheriff Gerard Sinclair stated if Johnston, of Dounby, had not been utilizing a leaf blower whereas carrying ear defenders the accident may have been prevented. He highlighted the shortage of "clear visitors administration plan" on the web site which might have "minimised" the necessity for automobiles to be reversing whereas work was being carried out.
The sheriff additionally criticised a scarcity of "competent web site supervision" to direct drivers to the most secure route and keep away from them having to reverse down the A967 street. He stated if Johnston had continued to oversee a closed street junction as an alternative of working the stihl leaf blower the accident might have been prevented.
However he made no formal suggestions after being informed Orkney Islands Council (OIC) had "responded appropriately" to the accident and had "addressed" defects of their working techniques following a probe by the Well being and Security Government (HSE).
In a written judgment, Sheriff Sinclair stated: "Keith Johnston had beforehand been suggested to not function the stihl leaf blower on the rear of the resurfacing 'prepare' and while the floor dressing course of was energetic. He was carrying ear defenders to guard his ears from the noise made by the stihl leaf blower.
"The mixture of the noise of the blower and the noise decreasing impact of the ear defenders meant that he couldn't hear any approaching automobiles. Had he shunned working the blower, the accident may have been prevented."
Sheriff Sinclair recommended Johnston's spouse and household for sitting by way of the inquiry with 'quiet dignity' and handed on his condolences for his or her loss.
Following his dying, then chief government of Orkney Islands Council Alistair Buchan stated: "Keith was a much-valued member of workers and a highly-skilled and skilled member of our roads workforce. He can be deeply missed by his colleagues."
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