FACTORY worker David Glendinning died after being caught between two
huge blocks of glass, a fatal accident inquiry was told yesterday at
Glasgow Sheriff Court.
The accident happened while Mr Glendinning, 22, was guiding one of the
blocks, which was supported by an overhead hydraulic crane, along an
aisle on the floor of the Independent Glass Company factory at Quay Road
North, Rutherglen, on July 10.
Rescue efforts were hampered through fear of breaking the block of 25
sheets of glass held in a metal frame.
Eventually, using heavy wooden levers and by delicate manipulation of
the crane, the block was eased up, and Mr Glendinning, of Kinfauns
Drive, Drumchapel, Glasgow, was pulled clear.
Mr Alan Wylie, 28, of Medlar Road, Abronhill, Cumbernauld, told the
inquiry: ''I was shocked. I could see David standing trapped between the
two blocks of glass.''
Mr Glendinning, who suffered crushing injuries to the chest, and a
fractured collar bone and ribs, died eight days later at the Victoria
Infirmary, Glasgow.
The inquiry was told that the injuries themselves might not have
proved fatal but the victim's breathing had been badly affected, leading
to brain damage.
Mr Wylie, a glass cutter, and also the firm's first aid man, said that
when he reached the scene he could see Mr Glendinning wedged between the
block he had been moving and another block, which had already been
stacked.
After they freed him, Mr Glendinning was given mouth to mouth
resuscitation. Cardiac massage was also tried before an ambulance
arrived with oxygen.
The inquiry was shown a video film of how the blocks of glass were
moved from lorries by crane after being locked into metal frames. They
were then moved along aisles by an overhead hydraulic crane, with two
workers helping to steer the block by hand.
Mr Stuart Baillie, 23, of Abernethy Street, Haghill, Glasgow, said he
was helping Mr Glendinning to guide the block along the aisle to be
stacked when he was called away to attend to a customer.
Then he heard the sound of the glass toppling, looked back and could
see that his colleague was trapped. Mr Baillie said that it was not
usual for someone to try to guide the block by themselves.
The inquiry before Sheriff Eric Galt continues.
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