An Enniskillen contractor has been fined £1,000 after pleading guilty to a health and safety offence following the death of a worker at a site in Co Fermanagh in 2020.
The prosecution from the Health and Safety Executive came after the death of a self-employed roofing contractor who fell from height during the re-roofing of an outbuilding on a farm.
Appearing at Enniskillen Magistrate Court on Tuesday, 49-year-old James Callaghan with an address of Drumbulcan Road in Ballinamallard pleaded guilty to a single health and safety offence and was fined £1000.
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The investigation found that the self-employed contractor died from his injuries after falling over three metres on to a concrete floor during the construction work that took place on 15 May 2020.
At the time of the incident, both contractors were walking across the roof structure when a wooden purlin broke causing both men to fall.
The investigation determined that no appropriate measures were put in place to prevent falls from height during the construction work.
Speaking following the prosecution, HSENI Inspector Gavin Rowan said contractors have a legal responsibility to ensure workers are protected.
“Falls from height have resulted in many serious injuries and deaths across Northern Ireland construction sites. Contractors have a legal responsibility to ensure work is properly planned, managed and monitored,” Rowan said.
“Falls from and through roof structures are avoidable. Control measures are readily available within the construction industry to ensure workers are protected.
“The failure of wooden roof purlins is a common cause of falls from height. Workers should always avoid having to work on roof structures and should consider the use of alternative access equipment.”
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