Inquiry into Recovery Worker’s Death Following Lorry Tipping Incident
An inquiry will be conducted into the death of Robert Garvock, a 68-year-old man who died when the vehicle recovery lorry he was operating tipped over onto him in Aberdeenshire.
Mr. Garvock, a senior recovery operator from Longside, died in 2018 on the B999 Pitmedden to Potterton road. At the time of the incident, he was recovering a stolen van that was lying on its side down an embankment when the lorry tipped, causing the cab to fall onto him.
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) announced that a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) preliminary hearing has been scheduled for 27 May at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
Mr. Garvock’s employer, Kairdson Tyres, which provided vehicle recovery services to Police Scotland, was fined £9,800 at Aberdeen Sheriff Court in 2023 after admitting to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act. The Ellon-based company accepted responsibility for the breach.
Relatives of Mr. Garvock described him as being loved by his family and well-respected by his colleagues.
Debbie Carroll from the COPFS stated the following regarding the inquiry:
"As the death happened in the course of his employment a FAI was mandatory."
Fatal accident inquiries are conducted to establish the facts surrounding such incidents and to determine if any lessons can be learned, rather than to assign blame.
