Wicklow company charged with seven health and safety offences following fatal workplace accident
The Wicklow PeopleA Wicklow company has been charged with seven offences under health and safety legislation following a fatal workplace accident in Carnew which claimed the life of a father-of-two.
Osborne Brothers Limited, with a registered business address at Main Street, Carnew, appeared at a sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court charged with seven offences under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act.
The charges relate to a fatal workplace incident at Topline Correll�s hardware store in Carnew on Friday, October 16, 2020, in which Niall Osborne, a father-of-two died.
It is alleged that on October 16, 2020, at the premises on Main Street, Carnew, the company failed to manage and conduct work activities in a manner that ensured the safety, health and welfare of employees, specifically in relation to steel racking frames used to store timber at the rear of the premises.
They are further accused of failing to ensure, so far as was reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare of employees by failing to inspect and maintain steel racking frames used to store timber at the rear of the premises.
The company is also charged with failing to ensure that the design, provision and maintenance of plant, machinery and other articles were safe and without risk to health, specifically in relation to the steel racking frames used to store timber.
A further charge alleges that the company failed to ensure that the steel racking frames used for the storage of timber were safe and properly maintained.
They are also accused of failing to take steps, following a risk assessment, to implement an improvement considered necessary in relation to the safety, health and welfare of employees, specifically concerning the external racking system at the rear of the premises.
Furthermore, Osborne Brothers Limited is charged with failing to ensure that work equipment, namely the racking frames used for storing timber, was maintained in a manner that reduced the risk to users of the equipment and other people at work.
The final charge, contrary to Section 77(2)(c) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, alleges that the company failed to ensure that the racking frames used for storing timber were maintained to reduce the risk to users of the work equipment and to other people at work.
Counsel for the defendant, Sorcha Dianamh N� N�ill Fulham, informed the court that a letter seeking disclosure has been sent to the State Solicitor�s Office.
She noted that the late Niall Osborne of Annagh, Gorey and formerly Kilcavan, Carnew, was a family member of the company director.
Barrister for the prosecution, James Kelly, said that the disclosure request was �extremely detailed�, which included testing the strength of metal and other components.
Judge Patrick Quinn adjourned the matter until January 2027.