Million euro safety fine for printer

A leading newspaper printer was hit with the largest fine yet for health and safety breaches today, after one worker lost a leg and another had skin ripped off a hand in separate accidents.

Smurfit News Press Ltd was fined €1m following the two serious accidents at premises in Kells, Co Meath, in April and May 2002.

Judge Raymond Groarke found the printers had put employee safety at risk with machinery that was inadequately guarded, Trim Circuit Criminal Court was told.

Although two weeks apart, the accidents were almost identical. In the first an employee was working at a printing press when his right leg became trapped and, as a result, had to be amputated.

In the second serious accident a worker had his hand caught in a printing press, and he suffered a de-gloving injury to the left wrist when his skin was pulled off.

Smurfit News Press Ltd, which prints a number of newspaper titles, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Jefferson Smurfit.

Tom Beegan, HSA chief executive, said the outcome marked a milestone for the protection of people at work.

“It reflects the growing seriousness with which the courts are dealing with these cases and with those companies who flout the law by exposing their workers to unnecessary risks,” Mr Beegan said.

The county Meath court was told inadequate guarding and failure to prepare adequate risk assessment on printing press hazards was to blame for the accidents.

Smurfit News Press Ltd pleaded guilty to six of eight charges, three relating to each incident.

“This is the second landmark judgment in just a week,” Mr Beegan said.

Cork Circuit Criminal Court in Cork handed down a one year suspended prison sentence for a breach of health and safety laws for the first time ever last Friday.

Mr Beegan promised to continue the unprecedented clampdown on rogue operators who flout the rules.

“The Authority seeks to work in partnership with both employers and workers to ensure safety, however we will vigorously pursue those who disregard the law,” he said.

“In the wake of this judgment, I would urge all employers to comprehensively review their safety management systems and prioritise health and safety within their business.”