8 February 2000

THREE CONTRACTORS FINED FOLLOWING SERIOUS ACCIDENT

At Newtownards Petty Sessions on 27 January 2000, McGimpsey and Kane building contractor, Ian McClure steel erector and Roger Graham roofing contractor were prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland.

The charges arose out of an accident, which occurred at Dunleath Estates, Ballywalter, where large agricultural buildings were being erected. A workman fell through a fragile cement sheeted roof that he was installing, to the ground below, a distance of some 15 feet.

McGimpsey and Kane were charged with a breach of Regulation 15(4) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995 for failing to ensure that the Health and Safety Plan for the construction project for which they were the Principal Contractor contained adequate arrangements for ensuring the safety of persons carrying out roofing work. A plea of guilty was entered on behalf of the defendant and a fine of £1000 was imposed.

Ian McClure was charged with a breach of Regulation 9(3) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995 for failing to take sufficient steps to ensure that the contractor he engaged to carry out roofing work on the construction project would allocate adequate resources to enable that work to be carried out safely. A plea of guilty was entered on behalf of the defendant and a fine of £700 was imposed.

Roger Graham was charged with a breach of Regulation 7(1) of the Construction (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 for failing to take suitable and sufficient steps to prevent persons falling through fragile material. A plea of guilty was entered on behalf of the defendant and a fine of £750 was imposed.

The case illustrates the need to ensure that the dangers of working with fragile roofing materials receive adequate attention at the pre-build stage of a construction project, and that the basic precautions required are put in place before anyone is permitted to work on or near this type of roof.

For further information please contact John Milburn at the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland on Telephone 028 9054 7075.