Collapse of the Caledonia Mill in Leith resulted in the death of Gideon Irvine in August 2004

A Scottish demolition firm has been fined a total of £50,000 after a worker was fatally crushed beneath a collapsed silo.

Gideon Irvine was killed in August 2004 when a large section of the former Caledonia Mill in Leith fell onto him as it was being demolished. Irvine was operating an excavator at the time.

A Heath and Safety investigation found that Central Demolition Ltd, a demolition contractor based in Bonnybridge, Falkirk had not carried out an appropriate survey to identify structural hazards in the silo buildings.

HSE inspector Murray Provan said: "Demolition is an inherently risky part of the construction industry. The very nature of the work involves bringing buildings or other structures down and there is plenty of advice and guidance on how to do this work safely and with the minimum of risk to workers and members of the public."

Central Demolition pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety Act.

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