Horrific death of salmon farm worker sparks legal probe
Horrific death of salmon farm worker who drowned after being crushed between two boats sparks legal probe by the industry watchdog
- Clive Hendry died while stepping between a boat and feed barge in 2020
Safety in Scotland’s salmon industry is to be investigated in court after a fish farm worker was crushed between two boats.
Clive Hendry died as he stepped between a boat and feed barge in February 2020 while working for Mowi, a Norwegian seafood firm that operates across Scotland.
In May the company was hit with a huge fine after admitting it had breached health and safety legislation – prompting Mr Hendry’s partner to warn: ‘Other people will die unless lessons are learned.’
The Scottish Mail on Sunday can now disclose that the Crown Office is to hold a Fatal Accident Inquiry to probe the circumstances of Mr Hendry’s death.
Fish farm workers who were working alongside Mr Hendry will be asked to give evidence about what happened that day and the systems of work.
Clive Hendry (pictured) died as he stepped between a boat and feed barge in February 2020 while working for Mowi, a Norwegian seafood firm that operates across Scotland
Working protocols and health and safety measures will be scrutinised to find out exactly how the salmon worker lost his life.
At Inverness Sheriff Court, Mowi admitted failing to carry out proper risk assessments and safety training in relation to Mr Hendry’s death. The firm was fined £800,000 with a surcharge of £60,000.
None of this money goes to Mr Hendry’s partner Catriona Lockhart, who is also suing Mowi separately in a civil matter. Last night she said: ‘I’m relieved there will be an inquiry into Clive’s death. It has been my main goal throughout the traumatic time since his death. I need to know the full facts of how he died and hope that this prevents it from happening to anyone else.’
Mr Hendry, from Dornie, Rossshire, worked for Mowi for 12 years before his death at Ardintoul fish farm in nearby Loch Alsh.
Safety in Scotland’s salmon industry is to be investigated in court after Mr Hendry was crushed between two boats
He stepped through an open gate on the Beinn na Cailleach boat to a ladder on the feeding barge in a practice known as a touch and go transfer. While on the ladder, he was crushed by the boat and slipped into the water and drowned.
READ MORE: Widow whose Salmon farm worker partner, 58, was crushed to death in horror accident warns ‘others will die’ unless firm improves safety standards
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch found that 58-year-old Mr Hendry was crushed because he stepped off the boat while it was still moving. He was able to do so as the bulwark gate was open and there were no crew on hand to supervise the move. The report found his workmates were unprepared for the emergency and did not know how to use the ‘man overboard’ rescue equipment.
Witnesses described how assistant manager Mr Hendry was submerged for about 20 seconds before being pulled from the water, but he could not be resuscitated.
In May after Mowi admitted its failings, Ms Lockhart said: ‘What haunts me is Clive must have been terrified. They admitted some failings in court but that did not go into enough detail to expose what they did wrong.
‘They say things have changed but I don’t believe they have. When it happens again – and it will – I want everyone on board to know exactly what to do.’
A Mowi spokesman ‘We continue to be devastated by the loss of our colleague and friend Clive. Since the incident, we have implemented the recommendations of investigative agencies and we will fully support the FAI process.’
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