BP is facing trial over the death of a scaffolder who fell from a North Sea oil platform.

Scaffolder Sean Anderson 43, from the Tyne and Wear, was part of a team carrying out routine maintenance on BP’s Unity platform when the incident happened on 4th September 2014.

Mr Anderson worked for the industrial services firm Cape when he fell from the Unity platform in the North Sea that is situated 97 miles off the coast of Aberdeen.

He sustained fatal injures from the fall that happened at around 4 am on the day of the inccident.

The case has now been called at Aberdeen Sheriff Court, with BP facing a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act, according to the Evening Express.

It is alleged the firm failed to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that people not in its employment, but who may have been affected, were not exposed to risks to their health or safety.

The charge alleges BP failed to have in place suitable and sufficient control measures in respect of open gratings on the lower deck of the platform and that, as a consequence, Mr Anderson fell through an open grating to the sea below and sustained fatal injuries.

BP has lodged a plea of not guilty in respect of the allegation. The trial is expected to start early next year.

At the time of the incident a Cape spokesperson said: “It is with deep regret that Cape confirms the death of an employee following an incident this morning.

“The deceased was part of a Cape team carrying out routine maintenance onboard BP’s Unity platform. Our thoughts go out to his family, to whom we will be offering every support.

“The deceased’s co-workers are obviously shocked and saddened and we are working alongside BP to ensure they receive the support they need.”