Roadstone Provinces fined for workplace accidents
ROADSTONE Provinces Ltd have been found guilty of breaching Ireland's Health, Safety and Welfare at Work Act 1989 on two separate occasions, and fined a total of £2,400.
The first case arose as a result of the death of Thomas Gaffney, an employee of Wincove Holdings Ltd, while cleaning a mobile crusher on hire to Roadstone Provinces' Boyle Quarry. The investigation found that the accident happened as a result of deficiencies in the guarding of the crusher's tail drum.
Wincove Holdings pleaded guilty to a breach of the Quarries (General) Regulations 1974 and were fined £1,000, with £400 costs and £200 witness expenses. Roadstone provinces were fined £500, with £400 costs and £100 witness expenses.
The second case resulted from an accident which occurred to Thomas Thorpe, an employee of Roadstone Provinces' Brownswood Quarry, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, in August 1998.
Mr Thorpe fell 10m from an area adjacent to the primary crusher while filling a hydraulic oil tank - a task he carried out on a daily basis. He suffered a double fracture of the skull and compound fractures of his pelvis, and now has only partial sight in one eye and can walk only with the help of an aid. He has not worked since the accident.
The prosecution said the area in question had not been fitted with a guard-rail nor provided with a safe means of access and egress. The judge presiding over the case found the company guilty on three counts and imposed fines totalling £600, with £500 costs and £300 witness expenses.
Roadstone Provinces have sought leave to appeal against the verdict.
