Gas truck driver fired for smoking

A driver who repeatedly smoked while driving a truck loaded with gas cylinders has lost his claim for unfair dismissal at the Employment Appeals Tribunal.

Galway firm Martyn’s Fuels sacked John Mannion in 2013 for smoking while driving a gas truck after he had received numerous warnings concerning the behaviour. He had worked with the company since 1999.

Two years prior to his sacking, the Health & Safety Authority wrote to the firm “seeking responses to allegations that the driver of the gas truck was smoking while driving the vehicle and carrying an unsecured load of gas cylinders”.