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Welder struck by metal column in fatal workplace accident
Summary
In June 2018, James Byrne, an experienced welder, was killed when a six‑metre steel column fell on him while he was using a blow torch to dismantle a steel hopper at the Doyle Shipping Group's Ocean Pier yard. The Health and Safety Authority investigated and charged the company for failing to manage the work safely, specifically the dismantling of the hopper. Byrne had been working on the hopper since April 2018 and had previously dismantled a similar hopper in Drogheda. On the day before the accident he had removed two 6‑metre uprights from a 10‑metre lattice; the next day he was cutting a third upright when the column fell. Co‑workers could not lift the bar, and Byrne suffered catastrophic internal injuries, including heart damage. The company pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and the case was adjourned for finalisation.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Welder struck by metal column in fatal workplace accident. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- June 6, 2018 Other
- April 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 9 Adjournment
- 2020-11-03 Publication
Places mentioned
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