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Record fine after health and safety legislation breach

  • 03-07-2003 9:16pm
    #1
    Victor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,464 ✭✭✭✭


    And about time too. All to often, companies are fined less than €2,000 for H&S breaches.

    http://home.eircom.net/content/irelandcom/breaking/967169?view=Eircomnet
    Record fine after health and safety legislation breach
    From:ireland.com
    Thursday, 3rd July, 2003

    The Circuit Criminal Court in Castlebar today fined a Galway-based company €500,000 for breaches of health and safety legislation, the highest fine ever handed down by the courts for such offences.

    The conviction and fine imposed on Oran Pre-Cast Concrete followed an investigation by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) into the death of a 25-year-old man following a work-related accident at a factory in Charlestown, in Co Mayo on September 3rd, 2001.

    Mr Thomas Farragher fell close to nine metres from a roof while replacing a damaged gutter. Working at heights is by far the biggest killer in the construction industry.

    The company pleaded guilty to breaches of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations, of 1995.

    The charges related to the company's failure to provide adequate training in fall protection.

    Sitting today in Westport, Judge Harvey Kenny stated that this case indicated a need for the legislature to now consider other penalties for such offences.

    The Chief Executive of the HSA, Mr Tom Beegan, described today's judgement as a "landmark" and expressed his deep regret at Mr Farragher's death.

    "This is a landmark judgement. The level of the fine imposed by the Court underlines the truly criminal nature of businesses who fail to protect the safety of workers," MR Beegan said.

    Since 1997, the number of prosecutions taken on foot of HSA investigations has more than doubled and currently there are 25 cases awaiting judge and jury trial in the Circuit Criminal Court.


Comments

  • #2
    ToxicPaddy
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 9,763 Mod ✭✭✭✭ToxicPaddy


    I totally agree with that decision..

    My dad works in the building trade and has to be strict enough while working on sites, he's done most of the safety training, has the first aid kit in the van at all times, wears the protective gear and all that..

    But ya still get guys who take a chance to save a few quid..

    Safety training only costs about few hundred to do and the gear isnt that expensive, a hard hat, luminous vest and steel capped boots in total are only about €150..

    Why do people cut corners when lives are at risk.. and the worst offenders tend to be the big construction companies..

    What was it they said? Something like 150 killed on construction sites in the last 5 years in Ireland.. thats crazy..


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