Aberdeen bypass needs immediate investigation

The adverts were discovered by Construction News. In one advert a wheeled excavator driver sought for ‘up to 15 hours a day plus weekends for 10-15 weeks’. In a separate advert two 360 wheeled drivers were sought to work for ‘70-80 hours a week for a six to eight week period.’ 

The joint venture project which is now being built by Balfour Beatty and Galliford Try, following the collapse of Carillion earlier this year, is massively behind schedule and has a very poor safety record. 

Regional co-ordinating officer of Unite Steve Dillon raised his concerns about the abuses on the project directly with Transport Scotland today (Wednesday 11 July) concerning the flouting of working hours regulations and the proper monitoring of hours worked on the project. 

Dillon said, “The latest revelations about the Aberdeen bypass project are disgusting, such long hours are lethal. Workers cannot work safely undertaking such long hours, this is exactly how mistakes occur and too often result in tragic accidents. 

“This is the latest scandal to hit the troubled Aberdeen bypass and the Scottish government and the Health and Safety Executive simply can no longer sweep these problems under the carpet. There must be an immediate investigation into what is occurring and if necessary work should be stopped to ensure that safe, legal processes are in place. 

“The rush to finish this already delayed project must not in any way be at the expense of workers’ safety or conditions. 

“Balfour Beatty and Galliford Try must be held fully accountable for these adverts, it is their project and they can’t try to pass the blame onto others. To suggest they don’t know what is happening on their own site is simply not acceptable.”