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Swiss manufacturer denies responsibility for death of young builder

A Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) is in progress at Lerwick Sheriff Court considering the incident in which James Thomson, aged 26, died on a building site. A can of adhesive exploded in his hand, propelling the top towards his chest and rupturing his heart.

Quality manager for the Swiss manufacturer Polypag, Juerg Eugster, told the FAI that he could “categorically rule out a production defect” and rejected any responsibility for the death of a young Shetland builder, in March 2007. He added that the can that killed Mr Thomson must have been exposed to a heating source of more than 90 degrees.

At an earlier hearing in August 2008, the FAI heard that Mr Thomson had been using a fan heater to warm up a batch of 15 canisters on the morning he died. A HSE expert witnesses is due to be heard and expected to say that the fan heater used was unable to generate enough energy for the cans to heat up to 90 degrees.

This article was posted on 23rd January 2009 in ALL LATEST NEWS, FATALITIES, FIRE & EXPLOSION.
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