Glasgow Prestwick Airport has been fined £144,050 after a fatal incident highlighted major failings in incident management and equipment maintenance.
On 11 January 2023, ground handling operative Joseph Dempsey, 59, fell around 10 feet from a pallet loader after a corroded guardrail gave way. Despite resuscitation attempts from colleagues and paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed severe corrosion and welding defects in the guardrail, which had been modified in a way that did not match the manufacturer’s design.
The defects allowed moisture to penetrate, accelerating deterioration. Inspectors found there was no documented record of the modification or of routine inspections that could have identified the risk.
At Ayr Sheriff Court, the company admitted breaching the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and the Health and Safety at Work Act. It was fined £134,000 and ordered to pay additional costs.
Prestwick Airport has since added guardrail checks to its inspection schedule, replaced the failed part with a manufacturer-approved section, and reviewed all work at height activities.
The HSE stressed that the case underlines the importance of proper maintenance and rigorous incident management in preventing avoidable tragedies.
