SCOTTISH POWER is to challenge a £1.75million fine for health and safety failings which led to a worker's horrific scalding at Longannet Power Station.

Plant controller David Roscoe suffered severe injuries, including serious burns to his chest and legs, after being “engulfed” in “high-pressure, high-temperature” steam when he opened a faulty valve at the now-shut power station on October 12, 2013.

The valve was missing an index plate designed to limit the rotation of the handwheel which opened and closed it.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the accident found that Scottish Power were aware of the defect but did not ensure appropriate steps were taken to either repair or remove the valve from use.

Scottish Power Generation Limited (SPGL), of 1 Atlantic Quay, Glasgow, admitted that between March 1 and October 12, 2013, at Longannet Power Station, it failed to ensure the health and safety of employees conducting plant checks at Unit 4 of the power station.

SPGL also admitted that it failed to maintain plant and a system of work that were safe and without risks to the health of employees, in that it failed to ensure the valve was maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair, and failed to have a system in place to manage and monitor the valve after it had been identified as faulty.

The charge added that, as a consequence, on October 12, 2013, David Roscoe, an employee, was conducting routine plant checks within Unit 4 when he observed steam emitting from pipework, turned the valve to close it and was engulfed in high-pressure, high-temperature steam to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and permanent impairment.

Sheriff Charles Macnair imposed the fine at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on May 31 but Scottish Power have now lodged an appeal with the High Court of Justiciary.

A Scottish Power spokesperson said: “We fully accept responsibility for the incident and co-operated fully with the HSE investigation, implementing immediate changes to our procedures at Longannet.

“We also apologised unreservedly to Mr Roscoe for the distress caused by this accident and we provided assistance following the incident.

“We have subsequently appealed against the level of the fine.”