A company was today fined £15,000 in connection with an incident at Lisahally Port during which three men were injured.
Burke Shipping Services Limited was fined £15,000 plus costs of £800 at Derry Crown Court for three health and safety breaches.
The sentencing comes after a Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) investigation into an incident on August 20 last year in which three male employees fell from a suspended work platform.
The three employees were ejected from the platform as it was being used to remove them from the cargo hold of a ship they were emptying at Lisahally Terminal.
The men fell a distance of between four to five metres and each received numerous fracture injuries.
The investigation found that the work platform was not properly attached to the crane and overturned as it was being lifted.
The HSENI said the work platform should also not have been used for the purpose of lifting and moving personnel.
Speaking after today’s hearing, Kevin Campbell, an inspector with HSENI’s major investigation team, said: “All employers must ensure that appropriate measures are taken so that fall from height incidents are prevented.
“When using suspended platforms it is vital that the platform itself, along with attachments, are properly designed, suitable for purpose and inspected to ensure their integrity.
“When a new system of work is being implemented it is also imperative that it is properly planned and managed to ensure employee safety.”
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