HSA | A fatal work-related incident occurred at a dairy farm in County Limerick on 30 July 2020. Dairymaster Unlimited Company, Causeway, Co. Kerry has been fined a total of €400,000, after pleading guilty to breaches of safety, health and welfare at work legislation.
A farmer was fatally injured from a pneumatic powered parlour back entry gate, designed and manufactured by Dairymaster Unlimited Company. This gate was used to control animals in the milking parlour, creating a separation between the holding area and the cow standing area, and keeping the cows in position while being milked.
Dairymaster Unlimited Company had previously pleaded guilty to six charges in breach of safety, health and welfare at work legislation. The company has been
fined €200,000 on the breach of Section 16(3) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 contrary to Section 77(2)(a) and a fine of €200,000 on the breach of Section 16(1)(a) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 contrary to Section 77(9)(a). The remaining counts were taken into consideration.
Chief Executive Officer at the HSA, Mark Cullen, said: “This tragic incident demonstrates the vital importance of ensuring machinery is properly designed, tested and supplied with adequate safety information. Manufacturers have a responsibility to ensure their products are safe for use at work. The consequences of failing to do so can be devastating.”
