Health & Safety Case Studies
2024/02 – Crane Overturn – Safety Alert
A mobile crane overturned and its fully extended jib landed on the ground between a parked trailer and a tractor unit. It was not lifting any load at the time of overturning. Driver fell from his cab and sustained minor injuries.
See case study2024/01 – Operative received bites from fleas and unknown insects while carrying out inspection works.
What happened? During opening up works and inspection works to disused Pathology building an on 4th Sept 2020. Operatives were tasked with various investigation works. The operative noticed a lot
See case study2024/01 – Finger Injury with a concrete chute
IP sustained a broken finger when impacted by a concrete chute.
See case study2022_10 – Construction Fatality (No. 7 of 2022)
Sadly, there were 7 fatalities recorded for construction activity in 2022, with the most recent occurring on 13th December. Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of the deceased. RIP
See case study2022_09 – Construction Fatality (No.6 of 2022)
Sadly, we have received notification of the 6th workplace fatality recorded against construction for 2022. Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of the deceased. RIP.
See case study2022/08 – Construction Fatality (No. 5 of 2022)
The deceased was working at height fitting sheeting to a roof when he fell to the concrete floor below.
See case study2022/07 – Construction Fatality (No. 4 of 2022)
The deceased was operating a slipform kerbing machine when it overturned on uneven ground, and he became trapped underneath. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
See case study2022/06 – Lorry Loader Stabilisers
In August of 2022, Skanska UK took a position to ban lorry loaders fitting with hydraulic tilting and hydraulic deployment stabiliser legs that rotate across the position of the fixed controls.
See case study2022/05 – Mast Climbing Work Platforms (MCWPs): Failure to detect mechanical failure in drive units leading to uncontrolled fall of platforms
The UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recently alerted industry to a serious technical fault identified with mast climbing work platforms (MCWPs), used widely in construction projects for work on tall buildings.
See case study2022/04 – Construction Fatality (No.3 of 2022)
Sadly, we have news of a third workplace fatality in construction for 2022. Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of the deceased. RIP.
See case study2022/03 – Construction Fatality (No.2 of 2022)
Sadly, we have a 2nd confirmed workplace fatality in construction for 2022. Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of the deceased. RIP.
See case study2022/02 – Construction Fatality (No.1 of 2022)
We lament news of the first confirmed workplace fatality in construction for 2022. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased. RIP.
See case study2022/01 – Torch-on Roofing
Accidents involving gas cylinders and work at height can cause serious injury and even death. There are a number of health and safety considerations involving torch-on roofing.
See case study2021/14 – Construction Fatality (No.8 of 2021)
We lament news of a recent workplace fatality in construction for 2021. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased. RIP.
See case study2021/13 – Construction Fatality (No.7 of 2021)
We lament news of a recent workplace fatality in construction for 2021. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased. RIP.
See case study2021/12 – Construction Fatality (No.6 of 2021)
We lament news of a recent workplace fatality in construction for 2021. This is the 6th confirmed fatality for the sector year to date. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased. RIP.
See case study2021/11 – Construction Fatality (No.5 of 2021)
We lament news of a recent workplace fatality in construction for 2021. This is the fifth confirmed fatality for the sector year to date. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased. RIP.
See case study2021/10 – Compressed Air Injection Injury
An operative on a project received a compressed air injury to the palm of his hand from a paint sprayer. The IP was involved in the assembly and spray painting of site permit booths.
See case study2021/09 – Construction Fatality (No.4 of 2021)
We lament confirmation of the fourth reported fatality in construction for 2021.
See case study2021/08 – Driving in Summer
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is reminding road users, particularly drivers, to be aware of the dangers posed by ‘sun glare’ during the summer months. Sun glare can result in drivers being temporarily dazzled or blinded by the intensity and brightness of the sun.
See case study2021/07 – Construction Fatality (No.3 of 2021)
It is with sadness that we confirm the third fatality in construction for 2021.
See case study2021/06 – Mag Drill Learnings
A collaborative review of incidents and near-miss accidents involving Mag Drills highlights some lessons learned.
See case study2021/05 – Peri Panel Failure During Lifting
A Peri shutter panel was being lifted by a tower crane to form a perimeter retaining wall. As the panel was being lowered to its final position (approximately 9 feet above ground level), the Peri Ply element came away from the structural element of the shutter panel frame and landed to the ground.
See case study2021/04 – Finger Injury with Concrete Chute
Injured person sustained a broken finger when impacted by a folding concrete chute.
See case study2021/03 – Construction Fatality (No.2 of 2021)
It is with sadness that we confirm the second fatality in construction for 2021.
See case study2021/02 – Construction Fatality (No.1 of 2021)
It is with sadness that we confirm the first fatality in construction for 2021.
See case study2021/01 – Edge Protection on Pick-up Truck
This lesson learned serves to highlight the potential hazards associated with working off a pick-up truck that is not equipped with edge protection.
See case study2020/08 – Vehicle and Spotter Contact
Resurfacing works were being carried at a newly installed crossroad junction. A worker stepped towards a bitumen spray truck on the assumption it was going straight. At the same time the bitumen spray truck driver swung the truck left resulting in the back of the bitumen spray truck swinging out to the right. The protruding back steps on the bitumen spray truck stuck the worker in the left shoulder knocking him to the ground.
See case study2020/07 – Pick-Up Catches Fire
While driving along a dual carriageway, the driver felt heat emanating from the driver’s footwell. Quickly, the cab of the vehicle filled with black smoke. The driver pulled the vehicle over to the hard shoulder and departted the vehicle shortly before it went up in flames.
See case study2020/06 – Suspected/Confirmed Case of COVID-19 at Work
A few confirmed cases for COVID-19 were reported for construction in July/August 2020. The CIF engaged with the Health Services Executive (HSE) and others to ascertain any shared learnings for the broader sector.
See case study2020/05 – Construction Work on Farms and Use of Concrete Slats
The Health and Safety Authority issued this safety alert in 2020 following a fatal accident involving construction work on a farm.
See case study2020/04 – Hand Crush Injury
Operatives were removing 1-meter kerbs from the shutter. The excavator driver was attempting to pick-up a kerb with the bucket of the machine when the injured person entered the red zone to assist the machine driver by lifting the front of the kerb into the excavator bucket. Subsequently, the excavator driver manoeuvred the bucket and caught the worker’s left hand between the kerb and the bucket, causing injury.
See case study2020/03 – Thumb Injury using Drill
A worker was drilling unistrut using a 36-volt battery drill on an upturned cable reel. The worker was holding the unistrut in place with his left-hand and using the hand-held drill with their right. When drilling the unistrut, the drill slid across the unistrut and met the workers left-hand thumb, resulting in a serious injury to his thumb.
See case study2020/02 – Coordinating Interfacing Operations
Two individuals working for a subcontractor were injured in a fall from height. Tragically, one suffered fatal injuries. The scissor lift they were working from was struck by an overhead travelling crane operated by a third-party contractor engaged by the client, causing it to topple over.
See case study2020/01 – Combined Mitre and Bench Saw (Power Craft Type 48455)
The European Commission has issued a Safety Alert in January 2020 to notify of the cessation of sales of a Combined Mitre and Bench Saw of brand Power Craft (Type 48455) owing to reported safety and health issues with Batch number 5 709386 484552
See case study2019/10 – Loose Scaffolding Banner
A printed wrap / banner attached to the scaffolding of a building came loose from several of its fixings and posed a safety risk for passers-by and to traffic.
See case study2019/09 – Tumble Dryer Fire
On returning home from work, an individual observed smoke coming from their detached garage, which was traced to a tumble dryer on fire.
See case study2019/08 – Failure of Job-Box Hinges
The lid of a Job-Box slammed closed on an individual's hand resulting in a 10mm laceration of their right hand, which warranted surgery.
See case study2019/07 – Demolition of White Hart Lane
An example of the success that can be achieved following a thorough evaluation of options and strategic planning of demolition works.
See case study2019/06 – Working at Height Fatality
We lament the first confirmed fatality at work for the Irish construction sector in 2019.
See case study2019/05 – Uncharted Electricity Cable Strike
A reminder of the potential dangerous when working near underground services. A worker was hand-digging a trial hole in a footpath when their shovel encountered an unmarked, uncharted, pot-ended cable resulting in a minor flash and some smoke. The potential outcome could have been much more serious.
See case study2019/04 – Hydraulic Breaker Chisel Replacement
An accident that occurred on a construction site identified some poor working practices with hydraulic breakers that have reportedly become commonplace.
See case study2019/03 – Stone Between Truck’s Dual Tyres Became Dislodged
A large stone stuck between the dual tyres of a truck engaged in site clearance works became dislodged as the truck gathered speed and was catapulted from the rear wheels. The stone travelled across a road and foot path and came to rest when it hit a hoarding of a nearby site.
See case study2019/02 – Temporary Working Platforms
The 2018 Irish Water HSQE inspection programme identified a significant number of safety findings relating to temporary work platforms on shuttering systems. Examples included.
See case study2019/01 – Failure of Nut and Bolt Connection
An incident occurred where a bolted connection securing a precast beam to a structural steel hanger failed. Following examination, it was clear that the retaining bolt support mechanism failed, in a progressive manner over several hours, resulting in the partial collapse of a section of precast.
See case study2018/08 – On a day in August 2018, an Irish Contractor experienced a near miss that could easily have resulted in a workplace fatality.
The site had encountered a known and confirmed redundant 50mm copper cable at various stages along the pipeline. The troublesome section of the redundant cable had been cut out using a consaw.
See case study