Breaches of health and safety regulations

Two people who were found guilty of causing serious injuries to three workers due to carelessness and breach of regulations were fined Lm1,000 and given a six-month prison sentence suspended for a year, the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) said yesterday.

The two owners of the establishment where the accident occurred were also found guilty of failing to ensure health and safety at the workplace and to third parties and of not appointing a competent person to certify the lift installed at the premises.

In another two separate cases, the directors of two construction companies were fined Lm1,000 and Lm800 respectively for failing to ensure occupational health and safety.

They were also found guilty of failing to carry out a risk assessment of the work activities, to appoint a person responsible for occupational health and safety and a person in charge of first aid.

The two companies had failed to provide a first aid box and easy access to first aid for the workers. Furthermore, they did not provide training and information to the workers and or their representatives and did not put up safety signs.

One of the companies failed to provide personal protective equipment and appropriate sanitary equipment.

Directors of another company were found guilty of leaving exposed corrugated sheets containing asbestos leaning against a wall in a public area. Additionally, they failed to prevent risks and hazards and to provide the necessary information, training and supervision. They were also found guilty of failing to ensure that the corrugate sheets were placed in adequate containers.

They were fined Lm400.

In other cases, five companies were fined Lm825 by the Criminal Court for failing to forward a lift certificate to the OHSA every six months as stipulated by law.

The court was presided over by Magistrate Anthony Vella. The prosecution on behalf of the OHSA was conducted by David Saliba.