SAFETY fears have been raised at the Scottish Parliament after a piece of granite cladding the size of a pavement slab fell off the building in high winds.
The panel, which measured 80 by 30cm, fell around five feet into an enclosed garden space near Holyrood’s main lobby, the Herald can reveal.
No one was injured when it fell from the side of the committee tower last month, and an initial wave of checks at the £400m building revealed no similar problems.
However Holyrood bosses have now ordered an “an enhanced inspection regime” as a precautionary measure.
One Holyrood worker said: “This has alarmed staff who work in the building. People are baffled how this kind can happen in a multi-million pound building that’s not even 15 years old, and there are workers who want urgent answers from the management.”
Most of Holyrood is clad in similar stone panels quarried at Kemnay in Aberdeenshire.
In 2011, a loose granite panel measuring 4.4 square feet and weighing 7 stone became partially detached between the third and fourth floors of the parliament’s ministerial tower.
The incident, which prompted the immediate closure of the MSPs’ bar and restaurant, was blamed on the failure of one of the three pins holding it in position.
The Herald understands the latest incident, which involved a fall rather than merely a partial failure, was recently reported to the parliament’s in-house health and safety committee
The committee was also told of a technician being taken to hospital after suffering a serious electric shock while changing light bulbs in a basement area over the October recess.
This was despite failsafe systems which should have prevented anyone being electrocuted.
A Scottish Parliament spokesperson said: “A low level cladding panel with a defective fitting detached from the building last month.
“After the incident, similar panels were rigorously inspected and no further faults were found.
“As a further precaution, an enhanced inspection regime will be followed going forward.”
In relation to the electrocution, the spokesperson added: “One of our maintenance contractors was injured while undertaking routine maintenance work at Holyrood recently. “The individual received medical attention that afternoon and is recovering from a minor injury. Following the incident, checks were completed on all similar light fittings.
“There is no risk to building users.”
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