A County Down construction company has been heavily fined around £40,000 after pleading guilty to a breach of health and safety legislation. Seapark Construction 2002 Ltd were investigated following an incident where a 23-year old labourer was seriously injured as a result of a fall when carrying out work at height at Seapark Lane, Holywood, Co Down on 15 December 2004. Prior to the fall, the worker had been standing on a pallet which was raised up on the forks of a telescopic materials handling machine. It was transferring mortar from a tub through a window at second floor level.
Judge Gibson QC, said the company failed to protect Mr Robinson from falling and the system of work adopted was clearly unsafe. He accepted that it was an isolated incident and that since the incident the company had taken steps to improve the management of health and safety, and to make sure that such an incident does not recur.
Following the hearing, Ken Logan Principal Construction Inspector for the Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSE NI) said, "This was a serious incident that could easily have resulted in a worker being killed. The system of work employed was totally unacceptable. Falls when carrying out work from height is the number one killer in the construction industry." He concluded by stating the industry must learn from this incident and take firm action to make sure that work at height is properly planned and the plans fully implemented.
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