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25/01/2002
Construction company fined after death fall
A local construction company has been fined £15,000 following a fatal accident on April 28, 2001 where a construction worker fell to his death from the top landing of a partially finished staircase.
William Dowling Ltd was prosecuted at Antrim Crown Court on January 24, 2002. The firm pleaded guilty to five charges of breaches of health and safety legislation after an investigation into the accident, which occurred during the construction of an extension to the Linenhall Library, Belfast.
Speaking after the case, Ken Logan, head of the Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI) said: “This tragic accident could so easily have been prevented. Work at heights must be properly planned and those plans must be rigidly adhered to. The dangers of work at heights are well known in the construction industry and failures of this nature can and unfortunately do result on tragic consequences.
“The human suffering and loss cannot be over-emphasised. Surely it is time for health and safety to be taken seriously by all involved in the construction industry.”
The news comes at a time when a number of local companies have also been prosecuted for not paying due regard to their employees’ health and safety. Gilbert-Ash NI Ltd was recently fined £250 following an investigation into a serious incident which occurred during the construction of the Adelaide Plaza Complex in Adelaide Street, Belfast. The accident happened when a worker fell eight metres through an asbestos cement roof, landing on a parked car.
J Kennedy & Company (Constructors) Ltd, Foylespan Floors Ltd and Patrick Murphy have also been successfully prosecuted following a serious accident at the new Bus and Rail Station in Coleraine, where two workers fell 4.4 metres during the placing of concrete slabs. The fines associated with this particular accident totalled £6,500. (CL)
William Dowling Ltd was prosecuted at Antrim Crown Court on January 24, 2002. The firm pleaded guilty to five charges of breaches of health and safety legislation after an investigation into the accident, which occurred during the construction of an extension to the Linenhall Library, Belfast.
Speaking after the case, Ken Logan, head of the Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI) said: “This tragic accident could so easily have been prevented. Work at heights must be properly planned and those plans must be rigidly adhered to. The dangers of work at heights are well known in the construction industry and failures of this nature can and unfortunately do result on tragic consequences.
“The human suffering and loss cannot be over-emphasised. Surely it is time for health and safety to be taken seriously by all involved in the construction industry.”
The news comes at a time when a number of local companies have also been prosecuted for not paying due regard to their employees’ health and safety. Gilbert-Ash NI Ltd was recently fined £250 following an investigation into a serious incident which occurred during the construction of the Adelaide Plaza Complex in Adelaide Street, Belfast. The accident happened when a worker fell eight metres through an asbestos cement roof, landing on a parked car.
J Kennedy & Company (Constructors) Ltd, Foylespan Floors Ltd and Patrick Murphy have also been successfully prosecuted following a serious accident at the new Bus and Rail Station in Coleraine, where two workers fell 4.4 metres during the placing of concrete slabs. The fines associated with this particular accident totalled £6,500. (CL)
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18 October 2002
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Awareness week highlights risks of working at heights
Local companies have thrown their weight behind the European Health & Safety Week to raise awareness of the danger of working at heights on construction sites. The safety initiative comes in the wake of incidents in which two men tragically lost their lives as a result of falls.
23 November 2011
Fatal Site Accident Fine 'Won't Be Paid'
A property firm that has since gone bust has been fined a total of £60,000 for breaching health and safety regulations following the death of an employee, Colin Glass, during the construction of an apartment block.
Fatal Site Accident Fine 'Won't Be Paid'
A property firm that has since gone bust has been fined a total of £60,000 for breaching health and safety regulations following the death of an employee, Colin Glass, during the construction of an apartment block.
11 March 2008
Investigation Into Building Collapse Begins
A Health and Safety investigation is underway after a building under construction in Belfast collapsed yesterday, injuring six people. The accident happened close to the back of the Royal Courts of Justice in the centre of Belfast.
Investigation Into Building Collapse Begins
A Health and Safety investigation is underway after a building under construction in Belfast collapsed yesterday, injuring six people. The accident happened close to the back of the Royal Courts of Justice in the centre of Belfast.
03 October 2001
Local contractors fined for serious safety breach
The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) has prosecuted two local contractors following an accident in February which saw seven men injured when a first floor support structure collapsed. The incident occurred at the New Courts Complex in Oxford Street Belfast, during the pouring of a concrete floor.
Local contractors fined for serious safety breach
The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) has prosecuted two local contractors following an accident in February which saw seven men injured when a first floor support structure collapsed. The incident occurred at the New Courts Complex in Oxford Street Belfast, during the pouring of a concrete floor.
09 June 2004
HSENI warns of imminent construction safety blitz
The Health and Safety Executive of Northern Ireland (NSENI) is to carry out an intensive inspection blitz of construction sites across Northern Ireland next week. The safety inspections are part of a Europe-wide inspection campaign to reduce the number of fatal and serious injuries in the construction industry.
HSENI warns of imminent construction safety blitz
The Health and Safety Executive of Northern Ireland (NSENI) is to carry out an intensive inspection blitz of construction sites across Northern Ireland next week. The safety inspections are part of a Europe-wide inspection campaign to reduce the number of fatal and serious injuries in the construction industry.
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