The operator of the Nevis Range gondola system and one of its staff have been fined for health and safety breaches following an accident two years ago.

Five people were hurt when one of the cable cars at the range broke free and fell more than 25ft in July 2006.

Nevis Range Development Company was fined £2,000 and Kevin Byrne £1,000 at Fort William Sheriff Court.

The company and Mr Byrne, 59, from Fort William, had earlier admitted contravening health and safety rules.

A family of three from Northern Ireland were hurt in the accident.

Craig Harris fractured his cheekbone and suffered back injuries. Teresa Murphy suffered major leg injuries and will never be able to walk normally again. Her three-year-old daughter Caitlin's leg was broken.

A father and son from Totnes, Devon, were also injured.

Dutch-born Jelle Koen was hurled from the car by the force of the impact and suffered a punctured lung. His son Daniel leapt from the empty gondola after his father and suffered minor injuries.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said a cable car came off the suspension rope and collided with the car in front before falling.

The forward car then tilted towards the ground, throwing one passenger out and causing another to jump to the ground.

In court, a letter from Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team was read out in support of Mr Byrne who has been a member for 25 years.

Nevis Range Development Company said its employees were all shocked by the accident.

In a statement, the company said: "Over the 17 years of operating, we have taken the importance of safety in all aspects of operations very seriously, and until that point two years ago had operated without major incident.

"Following the accident, we have reviewed and amended our operating procedures. We have done everything possible to ensure we continually focus on safety to prevent an accident like this happening again.

"Our sympathy goes out to those injured during the accident and we continue to wish them well."

The company said it was relieved that the court proceedings were complete and managers and staff were able to focus on the future of the business.

'People's uncertainties'

However, the HSE warned all operators of cable cars they must ensure they have robust safety systems in place.

HSE inspector Douglas Conner said: "This was a serious incident which could easily have had fatal consequences.

"As it was, five people including one child were injured, due to the failure of the company and their employee to ensure that strict health and safety rules were being followed.

"Notwithstanding the individual operator failings, the procedures provided by the company to gondola operators following an emergency stop of the gondola induced by a 'grip gauge fault' were lacking."

He added: "Latent failures in organisations such as poor communication and people's uncertainties about their roles or responsibilities can pose the same, or even greater potential danger to health and safety as active failures."

Article created by Editor. (info@complyuk.co.uk)