The Scottish Government should consider whether it can use Holyrood’s powers to strength the law on corporate homicide, an MSP has said.

The call from Labour’s Katy Clark follows the death of windfarm worker Ronnie Alexander who died from hypothermia after being exposed to extreme weather in New Cumnock in 2018.

The West of Scotland MSP said ministers must seek to increase legal responsibility for corporate manslaughter and homicide to allow prosecutions of management of workers who have lost their lives, and has since lodged a motion at Holyrood calling on on ministers to examine how the law can be tightened.

Clark said: “Following the tragic death of Ronnie Alexander, Holyrood must look at how it can provide greater health and safety protection for workers.

“Given the very alarming findings by the Health and Safety Executive that Scotland has the joint highest rate of fatal injuries for deaths in the workplace, ministers need to act with real urgency.

“In view of this, it’s highly concerning that no cases have been prosecuted in Scotland under the Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Act 2007.

“Ministers must launch an urgent consultation about how they can quickly strengthen this legislation.

“We must make it easier for to pursue prosecutions against management and businesses, where corporate negligence has contributed to the deaths of workers.”

Ronnie, 74, died at the Afton windfarm after being stranded during severe weather. He succumbed to hypothermia after his cabin generator failed, leaving him without electricity or heat.

In August employers CSM Facilities and windfarm bosses Farrans Construction admitted to health and safety breaches and were convicted over the death.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government is willing to consider any specific proposals to improve the operation of the law if that can be done in a devolved area.”