A farmer was fined £2,500 (about €2,900) at Antrim Magistrates Court recently, following an accident in which a worker fell while assisting with the removal of a shed roof.
The farmer had pleaded guilty of breaches of health and safety regulations. The accident happened when the worker, an employee, was on top of the roof preparing to remove sheets of corrugated iron. He fell four metres through an opening in the roof onto the floor below.
An investigation by the HSENI found that there were no safety measures in place to prevent workers falling through openings created by the removal of the corrugated sheets and that inadequate measures were taken to prevent workers falling off the side of the shed. The worker suffered numerous fractures due to the fall.
The farmer, who pleaded guilty, was charged with failing to provide a safe place and system of work and with failing to prevent workers falling. He was fined £2,500 (about €2,900). Speaking after the case, HSENI inspector Kevin Campbell, a member of the major accident investigation team, said:
“Farmers who employ workers are no different to any other employer when it comes to health and safety at work requirements. All employers need to take time to identify and address hazards within the workplace. When any work at height is on-going, proper measures must be in place to allow the workers to access that area safely. Suitable measures must also be in place to prevent them falling while working. Failure to take appropriate measures could result in workers falling, causing severe long term injuries or even death.”
