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)