Worker lost foot in site accident

Two building companies were prosecuted yesterday for breaches of health and safety regulations following an accident in which…

Two building companies were prosecuted yesterday for breaches of health and safety regulations following an accident in which a worker lost his foot when he was pinned underneath a machine.

Oyster Homes Ltd and Westabbey Developments Ltd, both with registered offices at Stradbally North, Clarenbridge, Galway, were prosecuted by the National Authority for Occupational Safety and Health before Galway District Court.

The court heard that Mr Patrick Burke, who was employed by Westabbey Developments Ltd, was working on a housing development owned by Oyster Homes Ltd when the accident occurred last September.

He was driving a teleporter machine when it overturned on uneven ground. Mr Burke was attempting to hoist a pallet up to a dormer bungalow window so that a painter could stand on the pallet to paint the window.

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As Mr Burke was reversing into position the teleporter overturned, and his legs were pinned underneath the machine. He remained there for half-an-hour until the fire service lifted the machine off with air bags. Mr Burke lost his left leg, from the shin down.

Following an inspection by Ms Maria King, of the National Authority for Occupational Safety and Health, Oyster Homes Ltd admitted it had failed to keep adequate and suitable scaffolding in place on the site for use by workers.

Westabbey Developments Ltd admitted it had failed to ensure the safety, health and welfare of its employee, Mr Burke, by failing to provide proper instructions and safety training.

It also admitted to not having a proper written safety statement, in particular one which dealt with the hazards and risks associated with using a teleporter, and with failing to ensure the proper training of employees, particularly Mr Burke.

Judge John Garavan said it was very much a case of closing the stable door when the horse was gone. He imposed fines totalling €2,500 on Westabbey Ltd and €600 on Oyster Homes.