Inspectors find 119 potentially-fatal workplaces in one month

Inspectors uncovered potentially fatal hazards in one in every six workplaces checked last month, the Occupational Health and Safety Authority has revealed.

Of 680 inspections made during July, 119 risks were found that were so serious that work was ordered to immediately to stop.

The assessments were carried out on the same month that construction worker Sarjo Conteh was killed when a wall collapsed at a building site in Cospicua. A magisterial inquiry is ongoing. 

OHSA cheif Mark Gauci said that despite the widely-available information on how to prevent occupational health and safety risks, some people persisted in ignoring their legal obligations, and putting workers at risk.

"In such situations OHSA will intervene to not only stop the work activity, but also to issue fines or commence judicial proceedings depending on the severity of the risks identified," he said.

The cases were being followed up with fines or legal action once investigations are finalized, the authority said.

The OHSA also announced that in July, 38 entities and individuals had been issued with fines ranging between €250 and €1,000 for breaches committed in the previous months.[attach id=910077...