A Fermanagh-based timber company has been fined £50,000 for a breach of health and safety which led to a workers death. In 2006, Michael Lukan was crushed inside a machine he was repairing at Balcas Sawmill outside Enniskillen when his supervisor restarted it.
Last year the supervisor, Raymond Alexander Irwin, admitted a charge related to Mr Lukan's death. He had originally been accused of manslaughter, however this was not taken any further. Instead, he admitted failing to take reasonable care. The incident happened when Mr Lukan was fixing a chain inside the machine. Mr Irwin had signalled to two colleagues on a gantry that he wanted the machine restarted. Using hand signals and shakes of their heads, they signalled that the machine could not be started again. However, Irwin went up the steps to the control console and pushed the restart button himself without checking why the other workers had not done so. It also emerged that safety devices which should have stopped the machine being turned on in such a circumstance, had been removed.
The latest case was brought by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland. Investigating inspector Brian Pryce 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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