Local construction companies fined for flouting law

Four local construction companies have been prosecuted following several instances of a serious breach of health and safety standards when working at heights.

Appearing in Belfast Magistrates Court on 11 December 2001, Gilbert-Ash NI Ltd was 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 8 metres through an asbestos cement roof, landing on a parked car.

On the 4 January 2002 in Coleraine Magistrates Court, J Kennedy & Company (Constrctors) Ltd, Foylespan Floors Ltd and Patrick Murphy were 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.

The penalties come after Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) warned it would take a tougher stance on poor health and safety standards throughout the building sector.

Ken Logan, Head of the Construction Group, commented: “These accidents had the potential to be fatal. Work at heights must be properly planned and those plans must then be rigidly adhered to. The dangers of working at heights are well-known in the construction industry and failures of this nature will result in prosecutions”. (CL)