Coleraine Borough Council has been fined £75,000 over the death of a waste and recycling site attendant back in July 2011.
Alan Devenney was crushed under an 11-tonne skip full of compacted waste at Loughanhill waste disposal depot.
The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSE NI) found that the council did not have a safe system of work for segregating vehicles and pedestrians or for lifting large compacted waste containers. In fact, they had failed to act on a warning received in 2008, and pleaded guilty to health and safety breaches over the death.
Anne Cassidy, an inspector with the HSE NI’s major investigation team, said all organisations need to make sure vehicles can move safely in workplaces, and keep pedestrians segregated from them. "Employees involved in lifting skips should also make absolutely certain that all equipment such as hooks, chains lugs and bars are fully engaged before moving a skip."
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