Palfinger Ireland Limited and Nationwide Crane Hire Limited fined €25,000 and €200,000 respectively following breaches of health and safety legislation

7th October 2022

Today, Friday 7th October 2022, in Limerick Circuit Court before Judge Tom O’Donnell, Palfinger Ireland Limited was fined €25,000 following an earlier guilty plea to one charge in breach of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. Nationwide Crane Hire Limited was fined €200,000 also following an earlier guilty plea to one charge in breach of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.

The case arose following an incident where two workers were fatally injured on 29th August 2015, when the basket in which they were working and which was attached to a lorry mounted crane fell into the river Shannon in Limerick City.

The incident occurred at Thomond Bridge, Limerick City, during planned maintenance work on the bridge.  A lorry mounted crane and man-riding basket were used to access the working area on the side of the bridge. The Health and safety Authority investigation determined that the winch safety overload protection system on the lorry mounted crane was defective and did not operate to prevent the wire rope on the crane from being overloaded. 

Mark Cullen, Assistant Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Authority, said, “The provision of plant and equipment that is maintained and safe to operate is of the utmost importance in carrying out any work activity. It is critically important that all safety devices and protection systems that are on the equipment are maintained and in good working order so as to protect the persons which have to operate and use the plant and equipment. As can be seen in this particular incident, failure to do so can lead to tragic outcomes.

ENDS.