Fined for disregarding safety regulations

Directors of a company were fined Lm600 by Magistrate Conseulo Scerri Herrera at the Gozo Courts for allowing the removal of items containing asbestos in a place they knew to be unfit for work, the Occupational Health and Safety Authority said.

They were also found guilty of failing to carry asbestos dust or fibres in labelled polythene bags. Moreover, they failed to obey orders by OHS officers and did not provide workers with the necessary information, training and supervision.

In three separate cases in Malta, directors of construction companies were fined Lm900 for failing to ensure the occupational health and safety of all those who could have been affected by the work being carried out, so much so that in one case a worker was severely injured.

They were also found guilty of failing to carry out a risk assessment of all work activities and of failing to provide a first aider. They also failed to provide a first aid box, easy access to first aid and sanitary facilities.

Furthermore, they did not provide training and information to the workers and/or their representatives. They were also found guilty of failing to provide safety signs and protective equipment.

A government employee, in his capacity as an acting director general, was fined Lm200 for failing to provide the authority with a risk assessment. He also failed to ensure the occupational health and safety of all those that could be affected by the work being carried out at a particular workplace.

A 27-year-old man was fined Lm100 for failing to notify the OHSA regarding construction work being carried out for him, which work was envisaged to take longer than 30 days and involved at least 20 workers, or the work was to take longer than 500 working days. He was also found guilty of failing to appoint a project and a design supervisor.

Apart from a general lack of occupational health and safety, directors of another company failed to have a tower crane examined and certified by a competent person and also failed to obey orders issued by an OHS officer. They were fined Lm200.

In another three separate cases, three individuals were fined Lm500 by the Criminal Court for failing to have a lift certified by a competent person and did not send such certification to the OHSA every six months as required by law.

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