€125,000 in fines following worker’s death in Co. Kildare

Two companies face fines of €100,000 and €25,000 respectively, following the death of a worker who fell from the roof of a factory in Athy, Co. Kildare, Ireland. The company he worked for had been contracted to remove asbestos cement sheeting from the roof and replace it with new sheeting.
It was heard on Wednesday (2 July) in Naas Circuit Court how Liam Reynolds, an employee of BIS Willich Industrial, lost his balance and fell through a section of roof where no scaffolding was provided. He fell 4.5 metres through the fragile roof to the ground, and died.
In 2010, Tegral Building Products contracted with BIS Willich Industrial Services Ltd for the works and BIS Willich Industrial Services Ltd had engaged AB Access Ltd to provide scaffolding services for the duration of the contract.
BIS Willich Industrial Services Ltd pleaded guilty to one charge under Section 8 (2)(a) of the 2005 Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, contrary to Section 77 (9) (a) in that it failed to manage and conduct work activities to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare of employees.
AB Access Ltd pleaded guilty to one charge under Regulation 103 (2)(c) of the 2007 General Application Regulations in that it failed to ensure that the means of protection – a guard rail on the right hand side of the roof – was so placed to prevent as far as was practicable, the fall of an employee.
Speaking after sentencing Brian Higgisson Assistant Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Authority said: “Roof-work is a high-risk activity, especially where fragile surfaces are concerned, but that doesn’t mean that the risks cannot be managed. Contractors must plan for safe working and review their systems of work to ensure that tragedies like this do not occur.”
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€125,000 in fines following worker’s death in Co. Kildare
Two companies face fines of €100,000 and €25,000 respectively, following the death of a worker who fell from the roof of a factory in Athy, Co. Kildare, Ireland.
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