Glasgow City Council has been fined £80,000 after a military veteran sustained severe, life-changing injuries when a severely corroded lamppost collapsed onto him in the city’s west end in June 2023.
The 50-year-old man was talking with a colleague on Bellshaugh Road when the lamppost, well over twice its expected 25-year service life, struck him from behind. He was then dragged by the fallen column after it was snagged by a passing car. The area was busy with pedestrians, including children from nearby Kelvinside Academy.
He suffered multiple spinal, pelvic, and rib fractures, an open leg fracture, and a broken ankle. After seven weeks in hospital and multiple surgeries, he now has reduced mobility and lives with significant chronic pain. Before the incident, the man led a highly active lifestyle including hill walking.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found the lamppost had lost at least 60% of its steel thickness due to corrosion. Although the council’s inspection in March 2022 had noted the column was in “poor condition” and scheduled replacement for 2024, the visual checks were deemed inadequate. The council failed to follow industry guidance to prioritise the removal of high-risk columns.
Following the incident, the council removed other similar old lampposts and updated its maintenance procedures.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Hazel Dobb said: ‘This incident in which a man sustained devastating, life-changing injuries should never have happened.
‘The lamppost that struck him had been identified as being in poor condition, yet inadequate inspections failed to recognise that it was severely corroded and at immediate risk of collapse.
‘This case is a stark reminder that local authorities and other duty holders must have effective systems in place to properly assess and manage the risks posed by ageing street infrastructure.’
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