Safety overhaul after UCC death

A university which was fined €80,000 for breaches of health and safety legislation after an employee was crushed to death by a cherrypicker has overhauled its policies and introduced new equipment and training.

Cork city coroner’s court was told yesterday that the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) — which mounted the prosecution against University College Cork (UCC) arising out of the death on campus three years ago of maintenance staff member, Frank McGrath — has accepted the “significantly enhanced procedures”.

A jury returned a verdict of accidental death after hearing how Mr McGrath, 58, from Richmond Hill, Cork, died instantly on March 5, 2013, when the front wheel of a cherrypicker rolled over him.