Dismantling firm fined €1,500 for worker death

A DISMANTLING firm was fined €1,500 yesterday for failing to undertake a written risk assessment in a case where a Polish worker was killed.

The worker, Edward Pajaczek, was killed when a five-ton section of a crane crashed down on him as he was dismantling it, a health and safety inspector stated.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin noted Pouladuff Dismantlers Ltd, Cork, had made a risk assessment when a senior member of staff visited the location with the deceased the night before the work was done. In this visit, a verbal risk assessment was made to the extent that the senior staff member and the deceased discussed how the work should be done.