Shabra Recycling Limited fined €75,000 following a fatal injury of employee

25th February 2022 

Today, 25th February 2022, at Cavan Circuit Criminal Court, Judge John Aylmer imposed a fine of €75,000 on Shabra Recycling Ltd following a fatal incident on the 16th October 2019 at Killycard Industrial Estate, Bree, Castleblaney, Co Monaghan.

The company pleaded guilty to Section 8(1) contrary to Section 77(9)(a) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, in that it failed to provide a system of work for the stacking of bales of plastic waste material and for the carrying out of cleaning work in the vicinity of the bales that was planned, organised, performed, maintained and revised, as appropriate, without risk.

The incident occurred when an employee of Shabra Recycling Limited was sweeping near recently stacked bales of waste plastic film. The bales, weighing between 360kg to 520kg, collapsed on him without warning which led to fatal injuries. 

Commenting on the case, Mark Cullen, Assistant Chief Executive with the Health and Safety Authority, said, “It is vital that duty holders ensure that all work activities are conducted in a safe manner. The circumstances of this tragic incident should be a warning to all employers to ensure that appropriate safe systems of work are in place to protect their employees. Furthermore, such measures should be specified in the company safety statement and communicated clearly to their employees.” ENDS