A construction company and a scaffolding contractor have been fined following a fatal workplace accident at a residential development in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, highlighting the critical importance of effective fall protection measures on construction sites.

The case, heard before Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court, arose from a tragic incident at the Marina Village development, where a worker was carrying out blockwork construction on Level 5 scaffolding adjacent to a staircore and curtain wall opening. During the course of the work, the worker fell through an unprotected gap between a two-board scaffold bracket and the building structure.

The fall resulted in catastrophic injuries, and the worker later died as a consequence of those injuries.

Court Findings

The court heard that the scaffolding from which the work was being carried out did not provide adequate edge protection, exposing workers to a significant risk of falling from height.

The construction company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 12 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. The charge related to its failure to manage and conduct its undertaking in a manner that ensured, so far as was reasonably practicable, that individuals who were not its employees were not exposed to risks to their safety, health and welfare while working on the site.

The company admitted that workers were permitted to carry out tasks from scaffolding that lacked appropriate edge protection, creating a foreseeable risk of a fall.

The scaffolding contractor also pleaded guilty to an offence under Section 15(3) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. The court found that the company had failed to ensure that safe means of access and egress were provided and that the scaffolding offered adequate protection against falls.

Significant Penalties Imposed

Following the prosecution, the court imposed substantial financial penalties:

• Construction company: €125,000 fine
• Scaffolding company: €65,000 fine

The case serves as a stark reminder of the legal and moral responsibilities placed on contractors, subcontractors and specialist suppliers to maintain safe working environments, particularly where work at height is involved.

HSA Response

Commenting after the hearing, Health and Safety Authority (HSA) Assistant Chief Executive for Occupational Safety, Eibhlin O’Leary, emphasised the devastating impact of failures in basic safety controls.

“This tragic incident resulted in the loss of a life and highlights the devastating consequences when basic safety measures are not in place. Employers and those in control of work activities have a legal responsibility to ensure that work can be carried out safely and that workers are protected from the risk of falling from height. The failures identified in this case exposed individuals to a foreseeable and avoidable danger.”

Industry Lessons

Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of serious and fatal injuries within the construction sector. This prosecution reinforces the need for rigorous site inspections, effective supervision and properly designed scaffold systems with suitable edge protection in place at all times.

The case demonstrates that where safety standards fall short and workers are exposed to preventable risks, enforcement action can result in significant penalties for all parties responsible.

Case Reference: DPP for HSA v Glenveagh Contracting Limited and KDK Scaffolding Limited, Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court, July 2026.