€100,000 fine after worker crushed in factory incident

Safety & Health Practitioner

Premier Periclase Ltd, a manufacturer of Magnesia products, has been fined €100,000 for health and safety breaches. The company had pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to breaches of Ireland’s Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.

Magnesia is used for lining high temperature furnaces in the steel and glass industries.

The case follows an incident on 30 October 2014 in which an employee was fatally injured on 30 October 2014 at the company’s Plant in Drogheda, Co Louth.

During a shutdown of the Plant, Mr. Patrick Lambe, a charge-hand employed by Premier Periclase Ltd, was part of a four man crew clearing limestone blockages in the pre-heater. He was crushed when a large blockage fell on top of him.

Investigating, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) concluded that certain safety procedures were not fully implemented on the day of the accident.

Premier Periclase Ltd pleaded guilty to Section 8(2)(e) of the 2005 Act contrary to Section 77(9)(a) in that their employee Patrick Lambe suffered personal injury and died.

Speaking after the company was sentenced, Assistant Chief Executive of the HSA, Brian Higgisson said: “All employers have a duty to provide safe systems of work and ensure measures are in place to prevent accidents. It is important that all safety procedures are initiated and followed, at all times, particularly where there is a risk of being struck by falling material.”

Related Topics