Four summonsed over fatal construction site accident

Summonses have been served on four parties over an accident on a construction site in which one man died and another was injured…

Summonses have been served on four parties over an accident on a construction site in which one man died and another was injured in Co Kerry over a year ago.

Michael Burns (57), Tahilla, Sneem, died and Tomasz Ciolek, a Polish co-worker, was injured while working in a housing development in Kenmare in October 2005.

The Health and Safety Authority has accused Tinal Electrical Ltd, The Atlantic Bar, The Square, Kenmare, Co Kerry, of failing to ensure that the place of work was safe and without risk to health at the Oran Group construction site, Dromneavane, Kenmare, on October 26th, 2005.

The same company, described as a contractor on the summonses, is accused of failing to take all appropriate precautions, "in particular in relation to trench work".

READ MORE

Another summons accuses the company of failing to take adequate precautions "in an excavation to guard against danger to persons at work from a fall or dislodgement of earth, rock or other material by suitable shoring or otherwise" as required by regulations.

The company has also been accused of failing to ensure "that every part of an excavation where persons were at work" was inspected by a competent person at least once every working day, and of failing to ensure that the working end of every trench more than two metres deep "was inspected at the start of each shift."

Five summonses have been served on Tinal Electrical.

Summonses alleging failure to provide a safe workplace, failure to provide systems of work for trench work and failure to take adequate precautions in excavation work in connection with the incident, have been served by the Health and Safety Authority on Tony O'Sullivan, Killaha West, Kenmare.

Mr O'Sullivan, who is described on the summonses as "an employer" and a "contractor", has been served with seven summonses.

Two summonses each have been served on Con Healy of Clonee West, Tuosist, Killarney and Philip Boyle of Kilmurry, Kenmare, alleging failure to ensure a safe workplace.