A company has been fined over a breach of health and safety law following the death of a worker on a diving support vessel.

Technip UK was fined £160,000 after pleading guilty at Aberdeen Sheriff Court today.

The case follows the death in April 2009 of David Stephenson who was working as a rigger on the vessel when he was injured in an incident near Aberdeen harbour.

He was flown to hospital but was pronounced dead.

A spokeswoman for the company said today: "Technip UK Limited confirms it has pled guilty to the charge in the indictment.

"The charge relates to an incident that took place on the vessel, Wellservicer, in April 2009 that resulted in the death of David 'Luey' Stephenson.

"David's death was a tragedy that the company deeply regrets, and both David, and his family remain in our thoughts.

"Technip accepts it made mistakes, has taken action to remedy those, and continuously invests in and develops its HSE (Health and Safety Executive) practices to ensure it provides a safe place of work."

The company admitted a contravention of the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency head of enforcement Jeremy Smart said: "This was a tragic incident which should never have happened and our sympathies go out to the family of Mr Stephenson.

"This incident clearly demonstrates that proper risk assessments need to be conducted before any operation is undertaken and the appropriate safety measures put in place.

"Safety failings like this are not acceptable in any industry."

Source: news.stv.tv

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