Health and Safety Act 2005 A case reported of a scaffolder who may or may not of breached health and safety legislation. The employee may of been acting irresponsibly when it comes to health and safety – and could be prosecuted – even though it did not cause an accident.
John Murray, a scaffolder working in Dublin, was taken to court after a concerned member of the public reported him for unsafe behaviour, Mr Murray was captured on camera as he erected scaffolding at height. Standing on a wooden plank, Murray failed to erect edge protection required by law and although he was wearing a harness, it was not connected to the scaffolding or building.
Murray would have likely sustained fatal injuries if he had fallen from the estimated 13 to 18-metre height above the concrete deck of a car park. Members of the public could have also been seriously injured or killed had Murray fallen.
1) Do you think Mr Murray breached health and safety legislation? (2.5 marks)

2) Under the Health and safety Act 2005 list three general duties of the employer and three general duties of the employee.

3) Draw up a 10-point safety plan for the scaffolding company .

4) List four functions of the Health and Safety Authority .