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West Lothian Council employees were carrying out gas repair works in July 2009 as part of a programme to upgrade the central heating systems in all of the council's homes. The work involved fitting new radiators, pipework, a boiler and electrical control systems. As the pipework runs under the floors, the floorboards were lifted in order to do the job.
On 2 July, Mrs Catherine Walker walked into the hallway of her house in Broompark View, East Calder, to go to her bathroom. She fell into the unguarded access hole and suffered major injuries from which she later died.
West Lothian Council was prosecuted by the Health & Safety Executive. It pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £80,000 at Livingston Sheriff Court.
Following the case, HSE inspector Garry Stimpson said: "This tragedy could have been avoided. The council employees should have covered the access hole or erected a barrier around it - this would have ensured the safety of Mrs Walker.
"Those working on central heating systems in a residential property must ensure that suitable and sufficient measures are taken to protect the residents.
"Every year thousands of projects involving central heating installation and upgrading are carried out across Scotland. Every time work is carried out contractors must take positive steps to prevent incidents - otherwise this type of incident will happen again."
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