Source: CNA
Two companies were fined €19,000 and two people received suspended prison sentences as a result of criminal investigations into health and safety at work violations that resulted in the death of an employee and the endangerment of others at work.
The Limassol District Court sentenced the company "E.M. ATHANASIOU CONSTRUCTIONS & DEVELOPMENTS LTD" to a total fine of €19,000 for violations that resulted in the death of its employee and the endangering of persons at work, according to a statement from the Labour Inspection Department. The Department has accelerated the criminal prosecution of the company.
The company was found liable for failing to use suitable scaffolding for the work of removing molds from a 2nd-floor slab on the north side of a building.
The company was also found guilty of failing to establish precautionary and protective measures to be taken based on a written assessment of the hazards present at work, particularly those relating to work at height, as well as failing to provide adequate instructions and supervision for the work of removing formwork from floors of a building under construction.
The second company in question, "D.T.A. ATHANASIOU CONSTRUCTIONS LTD," was made to pay a total fine of €19,000.
The second company was penalized specifically for failing to ensure that the company, which was subcontracted to carry out formwork construction work, used safe working methods in removing molds from a second-floor slab on the north side of a building, such as (a) using appropriate working scaffolds and failing to place suitable working platforms of sufficient dimensions and solid handrails on those scaffolds, of sufficient height, at least.
The court also imposed sentences on two participants, one receiving a six-month sentence with a three-year suspension and the other receiving a four-month sentence with a three-year suspension, for failing to take the necessary steps to use appropriate scaffolding for the work of removing moldings from a second-floor slab on the north side of a building. The required steps included determining the preventive and protective measures to be taken on the basis of a written report.
They were also found guilty of failing to take the proper measures to ensure that a subcontractor followed safe working practices and of failing to take the proper measures to ensure that the health and safety plan and written risk assessment were on hand at the work site.
The conviction also pertains to the failure to ensure that the safety and health plan was updated in a timely manner to include in that plan the working method and technical measures required on the basis of the written risk assessment for the execution of the work at height, as well as the failure to take the necessary measures, namely to ensure that the execution coordinator carried out his duties and, inter alia, coordinated the application of the general safety principles.
