2013 construction project regulations apply to farmers too

Legal advice on farm construction projects

You must appoint a project supervisor for the design and construction stage, if you are a farmer engaging contractors to carry out construction work. Picture: iStock

Recently at Carlow District Court, a fine of €1,500 and prosecution costs of €1,500 were imposed on a farmer for breaches of health and safety legislation.

The farmer pleaded guilty to breaches of the Safety, Health & Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013. The prosecution arose after an accident that occurred on a farm building under construction, near when a self-employed roofing contractor suffered personal injuries when he fell approximately 22ft whilst installing roof sheets on an agricultural building under construction without any fall protection or fall prevention measures in place.