A 36-year-old father of six has lost his life in an incident on a demolition site in Paisley, Renfrewshire
The demolition worker, named Derek Russell, was injured whilst working on the Waverley Road regeneration project.
Details of the incident have not yet been made public, but we know the incident took place on 9 January, and Derek sadly died at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, the next day.
At the time, Derek was working for Caskie Limited, the contractor delivering the demolition creations.
An investigation remains ongoing
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “At around 9.15am on Friday, 9 January 2026, we were called to a demolition site on Waverley Road in Paisley after a man was injured.
“The 36-year-old man was taken to hospital for treatment, where he died on Saturday, 10 January 2026.
“An investigation into the circumstances remains ongoing and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been informed.
“A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in due course.”
Euan Caskie, director at Caskie, said: “This is a deeply tragic incident and our thoughts are with his partner, his six children and his wider family at this incredibly difficult time.
“He was a respected and valued member of our team, and his loss is felt by everyone who worked with him.”
A fundraising page, established by Ardeer Thistle FC Youth Academy, can be found here.
Depending on the circumstances, Caskie may be fined
If an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) finds that Derek’s injuries could have been prevented, Caskie Ltd may be fined for not following HSE standards for keeping workers safe, and criminal sentences could also be on the table.
A similar case happened in May 2025, when James Pitsillides, director of Affordable Lifestyle Design Limited, was found guilty of failing to manage roof work in 2019, leading to 59-year-old Stephen Pywell falling eight feet from roof beams and dying from his injuries.
Pitsillides was handed a 20-week prison sentence, a two year suspended sentence, and 200 hours unpaid work, as well as being ordered to pay £10,000 in costs to Leicester Magistrates’ Court.
HSE inspector Phil Gratton said: “Every year, a significant number of incidents occur in construction as a result of poorly planned work at height.
“This was a wholly avoidable incident, caused by the failure to implement simple fall protection measures. Had the company used suitable work equipment or devised a safe system of work, Mr Pywell’s tragic death could have been avoided.
“Our thoughts remain with his family and friends.”
