Tag Archives: workplace accidents

TWO companies have pleaded guilty before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court to breaching safety laws which led to the death of a Clare stonemason, who drowned whilst carrying out specialist maintenance work on a bridge in Limerick six years ago. Bryan Whelan, 29, of O’Briensbridge, died alongside father-of-two Tim ‘TJ’ O’Herlihy, 36, from Castleisland, Co. Kerry, after they became trapped beneath the surface of the River Shannon in Limerick City, on August 29, 2015. The men were working from a steel platform that was suspended over the side of Thomond Bridge and held by a wire attached to a winch-crane, when the platform plunged into the river. Mr O’Herlihy and Mr Whelan, who were both wearing life jackets, were also each harnessed into the platform and failed to get out of the structure and died under water. Paul Murphy, 26, from Askeaton, Co. Limerick, who was working alongside Mr Herlihy and Mr Whelan on the platform, managed to escape and was …

CIF director general, Tom Parlon, has called on construction companies to redouble their efforts to reduce accidents on site for 2017. “Construction companies have worked tirelessly with their industry partners to reduce workplace accidents and fatalities. The industry employs over 140,000 people directly and continues to strive to improve safety management and awareness in the sector. Health and Safety Authority statistics show that tragic accidents are much more likely to occur within the micro-enterprise and self-employed sectors of the industry. It is vital that we redouble our efforts to get the safety message to smaller companies and sole traders, to reduce accidents and always strive towards a zero-fatality industry.” According to DKM consultants, construction activity is anticipated to grow by 9% per year up to 2020. This growth will be driven by ambitious government targets in housebuilding and infrastructure development as well as commercial growth. DKM estimates that 112,000 new jobs will be created by the sector by 2020 to deliver …