A FORESTRY worker lost their life after being crushed by an all-terrain vehicle (ATV).

The 33-year-old woman died in an incident just outside of Balnaguard, Pitlochry, in Perthshire, earlier this month. 

An investigation is ongoing to establish the full facts, but officials say the worker was found under an ATV. She was pronounced dead at the scene. 

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 3.15 pm on Wednesday, 7 August, 2024, we were called to land in Balnaguard, Pitlochry, to an incident involving an all-terrain vehicle.

"Emergency services attended however a 33-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Enquiries are ongoing however there don’t appear to be any suspicious circumstances. A report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

“The Health and Safety Executive have been informed.”

A bulletin from the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) read: "As a member of the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Arboriculture and Forestry Advisory Group (AFAG), we regret to inform members of a recent forestry related fatality in Perthshire.

"We have received an initial notification from HSE about an incident in Perthshire where a worker was found dead under an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). Please be reminded of the latest guidance on the safe use of ATVs in agriculture and forestry AIS33 from HSE and FISA."

The bulletin went on to advise: 

Moving and overturning vehicles are a common cause of serious and fatal injuries in agriculture and forestry. ATVs are designed to cope with a wide variety of terrains but if poorly maintained, used outside their safe operating parameters or carelessly driven, can very rapidly become unstable. 

To use an ATV safely it is essential that:

  • The driver is properly trained
  • The driver wears a helmet
  • The ATV is well maintained and routinely checked (especially tyre pressures, brakes and throttle)
  • Routes are properly planned, and if possible, new routes are walked, and hazards are identified, before the route is ridden
  • The appropriate gear ratio / 2WD / 4WD is selected for the terrain being driven on.

A spokesperson for the HSE said: “We are aware of this incident and liaising with Police Scotland.”