A County Londonberry farmer and building contractor were both fined at Antrim Crown Court for breaches of health and safety regulations.
Richard McClure, a farmer trading as McClure Farms from Coleraine, was fined £10,000 and S Higgins Construction Ltd, based at Knockloughrim, Magherfelt, were also fined £10,000 after pleading guilty to breaches of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order SI 1978/1039 and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (Northern Ireland) SR 2016/146.
The Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI) investigated an incident at McClure Farms on 16 November 2018. A 23-year-old employee of S Higgins Construction Ltd was assisting with preparations for the construction of a concrete reinforced wall at the farm of Richard McClure. During this work, a large metal shuttering panel fell onto the employee as he was working close to its base. The employee sustained numerous fractures and injuries as a result.
The investigation revealed that the shuttering panel was not correctly secured, in such a way that would prevent it from falling over.
Following the hearing, Mr Kevin Campbell, an inspector with HSENI's Construction Team, commented: "All construction work needs to be properly planned. Farmers must engage contractors with appropriate skill, knowledge and experience, and all work must be carried out in a safe manner. All temporary supports, such as shattering panels, must be adequately supported and secured, to prevent them falling over."
