THE death of a power worker in a vehicle accident in the Borders could possibly have been avoided if he had been wearing a seatbelt and had not taken a shortcut, a sheriff has determined.

Robert McArthur, 32, was driving an elevating work platform while working on an electricity line near Whitchester House, near Longformacus, Berwickshire, in January 2021 when the accident happened. 

He had deviated from an approved access route which would have saved approximately 10 minutes and went over sloping terrain which resulted in the vehicle toppling over, causing him to be thrown from his driving seat in the cab and the platform landing on top of him. 

As a result Mr McArthur suffered a fatal head injury. 

Following a two-day fatal accident inquiry at Jedburgh Sheriff Court, Sheriff Peter Paterson said he could find no defects in any working system which contributed to the death.

He concluded: “There are two precautions which could reasonably have been taken which might realistically have resulted in the death being avoided, namely the wearing of the seatbelt and adherence to the approved access route.”

Sheriff Paterson said there had been common consent that Mr McArthur was a conscientious employee and it appeared by nature he was someone who wished always to “get on” with things. 

But he added it could only be a matter of speculation on why Mr McArthur – who had 13 years experience working as a linesman and was from Kincardine – had deviated from the approved route.