Glazers escape after church scaffolding collapses

TWO men working on a church in Co Cork had a miraculous escape yesterday after scaffolding collapsed.

The incident happened as the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) launched a new strategy in Cork city for safety in the workplace following four workplace deaths in the county last month.

The two men were working on the stained glass windows of Dromtarriff Church in the Kerry diocese, four miles west of Ballymaquirke Cross in North Cork.

The work is being done by Cork-based Waters Glass and Glazing but the company was unavailable for comment yesterday.

The scaffolding on which the men were standing collapsed just before 11.30am. Gardaí at Kanturk were alerted and it is understood an onlooker phoned for an ambulance. Emergency crews were on the scene within minutes.

The men were assessed on site and were then rushed to Cork University Hospital.

It is understood the workers suffered multiple cuts and bruises. They were detained overnight for observation.

A health board spokesman described their conditions as “comfortable”.

“They fell from a height. They were very lucky to escape serious injury,” a garda spokesman said.

Inspectors from the Health and Safety Authority launched a full investigation yesterday.

“We are aware of the incident and are carrying out a full investigation of the circumstances,” a spokesperson said.