Premier Periclase fined for worker fatality
Company receives €100,000 fine following accident that resulted in death of employee
PREMIER Periclase Ltd, manufacturers of magnesia for the lining of high-temperature furnaces in the steel and glass industries, have been fined €100,000 at Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court following an incident in which an employee of the company was fatally injured.
On 30 October 2014, during a shutdown of the company’s plant in Drogheda, Co Louth, chargehand Patrick Lambe was part of a four-man crew clearing limestone blockages in the preheater when he was crushed by a large blockage that fell on top of him.
A subsequent investigation by Ireland’s Health and Safety Authority (HSA) concluded that, on the day of the accident, certain safety procedures had not been fully implemented.
Premier Periclase Ltd, pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 8(2)(e) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, contrary to Section 77(9)(a) in that their employee Patrick Lambe suffered personal injury and died, and were fined €100,000.
Speaking after the sentence was passed, Brian Higgisson, assistant chief executive of the HSA, said: ‘All employers have a duty to provide safe systems of work and ensure measures are in place to prevent accidents. It is important that all safety procedures are initiated and followed at all times, particularly where there is a risk of being struck by falling material.’
