Prestwick Airport fined after worker fell to death

The publicly owned company that runs Prestwick Airport has been fined more than £144,000 for failures that led to a worker falling to his death.

Joseph Dempsey, a member of the airport's ground handling team, died on 11 January 2023 when a faulty guardrail on a loading platform gave way.

The 59-year-old fell 10ft (3m) onto tarmac from a pallet loader positioned next to the aircraft.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport Ltd pleaded guilty to a breach of health and safety legislation, having failed to ensure the pallet loader was maintained and in good repair.

The government-owned company was fined £144,050, including a victim surcharge of £10,050.

Mr Dempsey had been repositioning the guardrail when it gave way.

He died at the scene despite assistance from colleagues and paramedics.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that one of the guardrail posts had completely fractured, and that there were visible signs of significant corrosion, discolouration and flaking white paint around the area.

Debbie Carroll, who leads health and safety investigations for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: "Joseph Dempsey lost his life in circumstances which could have been avoided if Prestwick Airport had in place a suitable and adequate maintenance and inspection programme to ensure the equipment he was using was in a good state of repair.

"This prosecution should remind duty holders that a failure to fulfil their obligations can have fatal consequences and they will be held accountable for this failure."

Graeme McMinn, HM principal inspector of health and safety, said: "Employers have an absolute legal duty to ensure that equipment they use at work is maintained in an efficient state and in good repair and full working order.

"This incident is a tragic reminder of what can result when that does not happen."

Prestwick Airport has reviewed its safety procedures since the incident.

The airport was taken into public ownership in 2013 after being bought for £1 by the Scottish government.

Ministers have said their long-term ambition is to return the airport to private ownership, though a suitable bidder has yet to be found.