Courts / Dublin / Report
Inspector criticises 'laissez-faire approach' to health and safety by engineering consultancy giant
Summary
An HSA inspector criticised Ove Arup's Irish branch for a "laissez‑faire" health and safety approach after John McCann, 62, died falling 24 metres into a ventilation shaft at their Dublin office on 23 September 2019. McCann, subcontracted to supervise fibre‑optic cabling, stepped onto a fragile, fire‑insulation floor that gave way. The inspector said the company failed to follow risk assessment, lacked adequate signage, and did not communicate concerns raised 13 months earlier. Ove Arup admitted two breaches of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and accepted responsibility, apologising to McCann's family. The company plans a €40,000 donation to a charity supported by McCann. The case is set for sentencing on 26 June, with a maximum fine of €3 million. The court adjourned the finalisation of the sentence. The unnamed man pleaded guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Inspector criticises 'laissez-faire approach' to health and safety by engineering consultancy giant. Charges or matters: two breaches of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005; failing to ensure the safety of non-employees at a place of work on the day in question. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- September 23, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 26 Adjournment
- 2023-06-14 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: two breaches of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005; failing to ensure the safety of non-employees at a place of work on the day in question (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: The engineering consultancy firm is due to be sentenced in two weeks' time at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, after a company representative pleaded guilty to two breaches of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005.; Judge Orla Crowe expressed the condolences of the court to Mr McCann's family and adjourned finalisation of the sentence to June 26.
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