Nicosia, Cyprus. The Nicosia district court on Tuesday imposed penalties over workplace health and safety violations that led to the death of a worker. Total fines amounted to €12,000, with separate penalties issued to an employer, contractor, project supervisor and an individual.
Fines and findings
The employer was fined €6,500 for breaches of health and safety regulations that resulted in the death of an employee and exposed others to the risk of injury.
The court found the employer failed to install adequate safety railings of at least 1.1 metres in height along the edges of a mezzanine floor, including a guardrail or other protective barrier at floor level.
It also ruled that the employer failed to install a handrail and horizontal safety elements to ensure proper spacing and protection, and failed to implement sufficient measures to prevent falls from height.
The worker died after falling from a height of approximately 3.37 metres.
The employer was also found to have failed to adequately supervise the work, leaving employees exposed to danger.
Other penalties
The project supervisor was fined €2,000 for failing to prepare a health and safety plan before work began and for not appointing a health and safety coordinator and assigning relevant tasks to them in writing before the project study began.
A similar fine was imposed on an individual for breaches of occupational safety and health regulations.
The contractor was fined €1,500 for violations that exposed workers to injury.
What measures do you think employers should prioritise to prevent falls from height at work?