A Dungiven firm, PB Formwork Ltd, has been fined more than £35,000 following a breach of health and safety legislation at a landfill site. The case relates to an incident last year at the Cottonmount landfill site, Mallusk, where an employee of Formwork was seriously injured. The court heard a large dumper truck driven by the worker overturned and landed on him. The general labourer suffered serious injuries including the loss of his right leg.
Subsequent enquiries by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSE NI) revealed the company had not provided the worker with sufficient training or instruction. In addition, no account had been taken of the incline of the haul road which the truck was travelling on. The company had failed to provide an adequate safe system of work for its employees. Consequently, the firm pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the safety of its employees
Imposing the fine, Judge Burgess commented, "This was an accident waiting to happen. It was an accident that was patently avoidable." Describing the injuries as "devastating", Judge Burgess added, "Such consequences and the avoidance of such consequences lie at the heart of this legislation, that is to achieve a safe environment in the workplace for those who work there."
Louis Burns, Head of HSE NI's Major Investigation Team, said, "It is vital that all companies properly identify and address hazards within the workplace, and implement systems to minimise and control risks. These systems need to be communicated to the workforce, implemented, maintained, and updated when necessary."
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