Merchant Homes Fined £160,000 After Worker Death

Merchant Homes Partnership Limited has been fined £160,000 after the death of Scott Bradley, 44, who was killed when a telehandler he was operating overturned at a construction site in Glasgow on May 11, 2022. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company failed to risk assess the traffic route, which had multiple hazards including uneven ground. Despite being described as safety-conscious and experienced, Bradley suffered fatal injuries when the vehicle slipped down an embankment. The firm, which has since gone into liquidation, pleaded guilty to a breach of construction regulations. Sheriff Louise Arrol KC expressed that the harm caused could not have been greater and acknowledged the devastation felt by Bradley's family, noting he was a step-father to six children. The court's fine was deemed not commensurate with the loss of life, given the company's limited financial means.