Company Fined for Construction Design Failure that Led to Stairs Collapse
Friday 20 February 2015
A fine of €25,000 was imposed on Oran Pre-Cast Ltd by Judge Nolan today (Friday 20 February) in Dublin Circuit court.
The company had pleaded guilty to a breach of health and safety legislation.
The case arose as the result of an investigation into the sudden collapse (under its own weight) of a prefabricated stairs in a post-primary school under construction on the 20th October 2010 in Phibblestown, Ongar, Co Dublin.
Oran Pre-Cast Ltd pleaded guilty to one charge under Section 17 (2) of the 2005 Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, contrary to Section 77 (2) (a) in that it failed to design a project for construction that was capable of being constructed to be safe and without risk to health.
Speaking after sentencing Brian Higgisson Assistant Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Authority said, “This incident highlights the necessity for correct and robust procedures to be in place to ensure all aspects of design and manufacturing are correct and in line with required standards. The consequences could have been catastrophic if the collapse had occurred whilst the stairs was in use.”
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