Tyrone joiner fined for serious injury to householder

At Newry Crown Court on the 4th February (sitting at Dungannon Courthouse), Mr Aidan Lavery was fined £10,000 plus costs of £1,500 after previously pleading guilty to a charge brought against him by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland.

The case relates to the installation of a lift into a two storey house in Tandragee in which Mr Lavery was engaged in preparatory joinery work.  Mr Lavery was engaged to make an opening between the first and ground floors into which a domestic lift was to be installed.

On Friday 5 October 2012, Mr Lavery created the opening for the lift at the property. The lift mechanism itself was to be installed the following Monday 8 October 2012.

On Sunday 7 October 2012, the householder fell through the opening, some 2.6 metres, suffering severe back and limb injuries.  A fixed temporary cover should have been fitted to prevent people falling through the opening.

After the hearing, Anne Cassidy, an inspector with HSENI’s Major Investigation Team said: “We would remind all employers, sub-contractors and sole traders that they have a duty to ensure the safety of members of the public as well as their employees. 

“A member of the public has suffered extensive life changing injuries which need not have happened if some very basic precautions had been taken”.

For more information on Health and Safety in the workplace visit www.hseni.gov.uk or contact HSENI on 0800 0321 121