A company has been fined €40,000 following the death of a man while working at the Hydro Race Bridge in Gaoth Dobhair in 2018.
Ian Smith, aged 65, who was from Ederney in Co Fermanagh died in the tragedy.
At today’s sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court, Judge John Aylmer fined Deane Public Works Ltd following a fatal incident at the Hydro Race Bridge, Gaoth Dobhair on 15th January 2018.
The company pleaded guilty to Section 8(2)(e) contrary to Section 77(9)(a) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
It admitted that it failed to provide a system of work that was planned, organised, performed, maintained and revised to be, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risk to health for accessing, using or moving floating pontoons safely, resulting in the death of an employee.
The incident occurred when an employee of Deane Public Works Ltd was attempting to move a floating pontoon which was located under the bridge to prevent construction debris entering the water.
As the pontoon was being moved the employee lost his footing, fell into the river and drowned.
Several of the late Mr Smith’s family were in court to hear details of the incident.
Mark Cullen, Assistant Chief Executive with the Health and Safety Authority said, “It is vital that all construction work is carefully assessed and planned in advance to ensure the safety and health of all employees, especially so where the workplace is adjacent to water.
“Working on or near water presents particular hazards that have to be carefully considered, failure to do so in this instance led to a tragic outcome that could have been prevented.”
