Investigations begin into death at Aberdeen recycling centre
Investigations are underway after a man died at an Aberdeen recycling centre yesterday (3 October).
The 30-year-old man, who has not yet been named, was involved in an incident at EIS Waste Services in Nigg, near Aberdeen, at around 2.30pm yesterday afternoon.
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “Police and the Health and Safety Executive are making inquiries following the death of a male in his 30s.
“Inquiries are at an early stage and [are] ongoing to establish the circumstances. As with all sudden deaths, a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”
Local media are reporting that the man had died before ambulances and the fire brigade arrived at the scene.
An HSE spokeswoman confirmed the organisation was working with police at the scene.
EIS Waste Services was established in 1989 and describes itself on its website as ‘Aberdeen’s longest established skip hire specialist’. The company, which employs over 100 members of staff, also offers recycling and commercial waste services, including collection, treatment and waste disposal, and operates two MRFs at what it calls ‘Aberdeen’s largest purpose built waste transfer and recycling facility’.
This is the second fatality involving the waste industry in Aberdeenshire this year, after the 48-year-old driver of a council tipper truck was killed in Hatton after a collision with a van.
According to statistics published by the HSE this summer, there were six fatal injuries to workers in waste and recycling in 2015/16, compared to the five-year average (seven).
This corresponds to a rate of 5.71 deaths per 100,000 employees, making the waste industry the second most dangerous after agriculture (7.73 per 100,000). In contrast, construction and manufacturing only have rates of 1.94 and 0.92 respectively.
