A company has been fined €270,000 following a fatal road resurfacing incident in Co. Kerry.
The tragic incident occurred in 2020 during road resurfacing works, when a worker was struck by a vehicle while removing safety signs from the road.
The company pleaded guilty to two charges, both under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, and was charged a fine of €270,000.
Safety advice for employers
Stories like these are stark reminders of the importance of Health & Safety management.
To protect their staff, employers must ensure comprehensive safety planning, robust risk assessments, and sufficient emergency procedures - especially in high-risk activities such as roadworks.
Employers should:
- Review safety protocols for high-risk operations, such as roadworks, construction, and the use of heavy machinery.
- Ensure that Traffic Management plans are completed by a competent person
- Ensure staff are fully trained in safety procedures and machinery.
- Have a complete and fully up-to-date safety statement in place and ensure that this has been communicated to all relevant staff.
- If an incident does occur, whether minor or very serious, it’s important to document the incident and report it to the HSA where necessary.