Council defends road safety practices

A DISPUTE between Cork County Council and the Health and Safety Authority has opened before the High Court arising from concerns about the safety implications of extended use of a certain type of temporary road surfacing.

The HSA had expressed concern to Cork County Council that dense bitumen macadam (DBM), a temporary road surface to be covered by a wearing surface, has lesser skid resistance and that it was being used by traffic during roadworks.

It expressed concern about the lapse of time that might occur between the laying of a DBM surface and the subsequent laying of a permanent wearing surface and had argued Cork County Council should comply with health and safety regulations while road works are being carried out.