10% of Cork companies found to be in breach of safety laws

Almost 10% of companies inspected as part of a recent safety blitz in Co Cork were found to be in breach of workplace safety legislation, according to the Health and Safety Authority.

The authority said 41 of the 433 workplaces inspected as part of the blitz were found to be in breach of health and safety legislation to some extent.

Twenty of these companies, including 19 in the construction sector, were ordered to cease certain activities until concerns had been addressed.

The inspection programme was mounted last month in an effort to improve workplace safety standards, particularly on building sites.

The move followed four fatal workplace accidents in the Cork area during January of this year.