A DUNBAR businessman who was crushed to death at Musselburgh Racecourse was responsible for the accident which killed him, a fatal accident inquiry has ruled.

Alan Bussell, a director of Strawberry Corner Garden Centre, by Wallyford, was making a delivery to the racecourse when he was crushed under the crane he was operating.

Mr Bussell, who was 56 at the time of the accident on May 1, 2013, was an experienced crane operator and regularly made deliveries of goods for his company.

However, an inquiry into his death has ruled he failed to operate “safe practice” when using the crane and accidentally activated it while he was underneath it.

The ruling by Sheriff Ross said: “The failure was not one of equipment, but of system of work. Mr Bussell, unfortunately, caused the machinery to operate due to his inadvertence.

“This would have been avoided had a safe system of work been in place.” The hearing into Mr Bussell’s death was held in Edinburgh last month over two days with evidence given from his widow Margaret, and two health and safety officers.

It heard the crane was operated via a remote control which Mr Bussell had around his waist; however, he did not suspend the controls when he was working under the crane, something the sheriff said should have been done every time it was not being used.

He said the manufacturers’ manual for the equipment pointed out the dangers of fatal accident if the practice was not carried out.

The sheriff said: “In my view, the danger of the crane operating without warning was self-evident, and should have been well within the contemplation of an experienced crane-operator and driver as Mr Bussell.” Mr Bussell’s body was discovered at about 9.20am on the day in question by staff at the racecourse.

His widow Margaret asked the sheriff to issue reminders to people who operate remote control consoles that they should be routinely isolated every time a load is approached, which he agreed to, although he stopped short of making a formal recommendation because, he said the risk was already well-recognised within the industry.

Sheriff Ross paid tribute to Mrs Bussell and her family.

He said: “It just remains for me to convey my sympathies to Mr Bussell’s family and in particular to Mrs Margaret Bussell, and to pay tribute to the dignity with which she conducted herself throughout the proceedings.” Musselburgh Racecourse general manager, Bill Farnsworth, said: “At the time of this tragic accident, Musselburgh Racecourse staff were first on the scene but were sadly unable to do anything to help Mr Bussell.

“Our sympathies are with his wife Margaret and family.”