04.02.2004

Fatal incident at Irish power plant site

Ireland's Health & Safety Authority (HSA) has launched an investigation into the death of a man working at the ESB power plant construction site in Shannonbridge, County Offaly, Ireland yesterday evening. The ESB and Foster Wheeler, the main contractor, are participating in the investigation.

The man Owen O'Neill, 37, was reported to have lost his life in an incident involving "heavy lifting equipment". We understand that he had just climbed out of the cab of a telescopic handler after parking it alongside a trench at the site. when the trench wall gave way dumping him and telehandler into the trench, resulting in crushing injuries from which he died.

The HSA sent two inspectors to the scene of the accident, which happened at around 17:00. The man was employed by a sub-contractor working on part of the power plant, which is being built under Turkish contractors Gamma.