THE death of a salmon farm worker in Orkney “confirms” health and safety concerns across the industry, the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) warned today.

BFAWU general secretary Sarah Woolley spoke amid police and Health and Safety Executive inquiries into the death of a 22-year-old after he fell from a salmon farm boat in Scapa Flow on Thursday.

Offering the union’s condolences to the family of the victim, Ms Woolley said: “No worker should leave for work and never return to their loved ones. 

“We need to learn more before commenting on the specifics of this tragic death. 

“But what we will say is that, for well over a year, we have been raising concerns about the general levels of health and safety incidents in the salmon industry and our belief that this industry plays fast and loose with its workforce’s health and safety.”

“The death of this young man confirms we were right to raise these concerns,” Ms Woolley added.

“Make no mistake, this tragic death hardens our resolve to campaign for improvements in the salmon industry.”