A company has been fined £80,000 after a member of staff suffered a fractured skull while moving dead cattle in Glasgow.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Grayshill Limited failed to “implement the correct control measures and safe working practices” at its site near Cumbernauld.

An employee of the company – which specializes in the removal and disposal of dead animals – was struck by a telescopic handling bucket while working on October 19, 2022.

The worker suffered a broken collarbone, a torn earlobe and bruising on his right side when he pulled the cattle out of the back of a truck.

The HSE found that the telehandler’s bucket came off and hit him and that Grayshill “failed to implement a safe system of work for the use of quick hooks on the telehandler”.

A quick hitch is a locking device that allows, in this case, the bucket to be connected to the telescopic handler arm and quickly changed.

A manual quick coupler requires an operator to manually insert a metal pin from the locking device to secure attachment.

On the morning of October 19, 2022, an independent agricultural engineer serviced the telehandler, which included removing the bucket.

However, the HSE found that the engineer did not properly attach the telehandler after the service was completed.

The investigation found that the quick coupler retaining pin had not been reinserted.

HSE Chief Inspector Hazel Dobb said: “This was a serious incident which resulted in horrific injuries to a worker.

“We have thoroughly investigated this incident and found that Grayshill Limited failed to carry out the correct controls and safe working practices at its site in Glasgow.

“The company also failed to check its vehicles after they were serviced and repaired to ensure they were safe for use.”

Grayshill Limited, of Mollins Road, Cumbernauld, Glasgow, pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act. 1974.

The company was fined £80,000 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £6,000 at Airdrie Sheriff Court on Monday 28 October 2024.

Grayshill Limited has been contacted for comment.

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