Ladder detached from roof before joiner's fatal fall

Mr Murray fell while renovating a building in Bragar

A joiner was injured in a fall and later died after the hooks on a ladder he was on detached from the ridge of a building's roof.

John Murray, 58, was working on the renovation of a former primary school in Bragar, on the Isle of Lewis, when the accident happened in November 2019.

A fatal accident inquiry (FAI) heard he suffered head injuries and later died in hospital in Glasgow.

The inquiry was unable to find out what caused the ladder to detach.

The hearing was told the extendable ladder was appropriate for the job on the single-storey property.

Mr Murray, from the Ness area of Lewis, had been a joiner all his working life and held a construction industry certification scheme's gold card because of his level of experience.

He had been replacing slates on the sloping roof of the former school.

In his newly-published determination, Sheriff Gordon Lamont made recommendations around improvements to construction site safety.

He added: "I would like to formally offer my sincerest condolences and deepest sympathy to the family of Mr Murray for their unexpected, tragic loss."

The sheriff said Mr Murray had been held highly regarded by his colleagues and employers.

Debbie Carroll, who leads on health and safety investigations for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said Mr Murray had been carrying out a task appropriately with suitable equipment, free from defects, in compliance with Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance.

She added: "Our thoughts are with Mr Murray's family at this time.

"The procurator fiscal service will continue to keep in contact with the family and answer any questions they may have about the determination."