Company in Larnaca fined €20,000 after fatal accident

The Larnaca District Court fined MICHAELAS CLEANING CHEMICALS LTD €20,000 for breaches of occupational health and safety legislation. The case concerned a fatal accident involving an employee of the company.

As reported by the Department of Labour Inspection of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance, the company is engaged, among other activities, in transferring liquid cleaning products from tanks and barrels into small plastic containers.

The accident occurred while work was being carried out with a container. The employee was supposed to collect empty plastic containers and stood on a pallet placed on the forks of a forklift.

The man lost his balance and fell from a height of approximately 1.45 metres. He sustained serious injuries and died on 9 July 2023.

The court also found that the accident scene had not been preserved in its original condition after the incident. The forklift involved in the accident had been moved.

In addition, the company did not have a valid certificate confirming that the forklift had been inspected by an authorised lifting equipment specialist.

The company was found guilty of breaching the requirements of legislation and regulations concerning the reporting of accidents, as well as the operation, maintenance and inspection of lifting equipment.