Co Tyrone firm fined £2,400 for joiner's fall at top hotel

Dungannon construction firm, Raptic Ltd, which is based on Granville Road and employs eight people, admitted a breach in their duty in planning supervision, and also failing to ensure the safety of a non-employee – namely a joiner who was working on an extension at the Galgorm Resort and Spa on the outskirts of Ballymena on September 5, 2014.

An earlier hearing heard the joiner had been working for Harvey Formworks, a construction company based on Glen Road in Glenariffe. The owner was acquitted last week of failing to plan, manage or monitor work on site.

Harvey Formworks had supplied several tradesmen for Raptic Ltd, including the joiner, to work on the extension at the hotel.

He fell four metres (around 13 feet) while working on the construction of a ‘false floor’, sustaining multiple injuries including nine broken ribs and a fractured hand.

The prosecution said Raptic had carried out a number of risk assessments, but failed to ensure that those on site were aware of the content of those assessments.

A defence lawyer told Belfast Crown Court Raptic was a “highly reputable company” and that in its 25-year history, “had never darkened the door of any court”.

He said from the outset “this company was quick enough to accept liability”, and it was accepted that their guilty pleas were “welcome” to the injured joiner who now “has the benefit of knowing his claim (for compensation) will be successful”.