Firm Fined £35k After Labourer Loses Leg

A Dungiven firm has been fined more than £35,000 following a Health and Safety breach at a landfill site which resulted in a worker losing a leg.

PB Formwork Limited was fined a total of £35,000 plus £2,539 costs after pleading guilty at Belfast Crown Court to a breach of legislation, in a case brought by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland.

The case relates to an incident on 28 February 2008 at the Cottonmount Landfill Site, Mallusk, County Antrim.

John Bassett, a general labourer employed by PB Formwork Ltd, was seriously injured when a large dumper truck he was driving overturned and landed on his legs.

Mr Bassett suffered grievous injuries including the loss of his right leg. Subsequent enquiries by HSENI revealed that PB Formwork Ltd had not provided Mr Bassett with sufficient training or instruction.

In addition no account had been taken of the incline of the haul road which Mr Bassett was travelling on. The Company had failed to provide an adequate safe system of work for its employees.

Consequently, PB Formwork Ltd pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the safety of its employees and was fined a total of £35,000.

At sentencing Judge Burgess said: "This was an accident waiting to happen. It was an accident that was patently avoidable."

Describing the injuries suffered by Mr Bassett as "devastating", Judge Burgess went on to say: "Such consequences and the avoidance of such consequences lie at the heart of this legislation, that is to achieve a safe environment in the work place for those who work there."

After the hearing Louis Burns, Head of HSENI's Major Investigation Team, said: "It is vital that all companies properly identify and address hazards within the workplace, and implement systems to minimise and control risks.

"These systems need to be communicated to the workforce, implemented, maintained, and updated when necessary."

(PR/JM)