Court fines construction firms for ignoring safety

The labour inspection department had secured the conviction of two construction companies for violation of work health and safety legislation, the ministry of labour announced on Monday.

The department brought charges against DEPCON CONSTRUCTION LTD and SOTIRIS NETIATIS & SONS LTD, which court found guilty of violating safety provisions.

Paphos district court fined DEPCON CONSTRUCTION LTD €3,000 for not following minimum safety provisions for temporary or mobile construction sites, thereby endangering employees and others.

The company was found to have failed to take adequate measures before the start of demolition work, which led to the collapse of part of a building.

SOTIRIS NETIATIS & SONS LTD was fined €3,000 for violations of the minimum safety provisions for temporary or mobile construction sites, and having put persons-at-work and others at risk. This conviction, too, was for failure to take appropriate measures prior to demolition work resulting in the collapse of part of a building.

Additionally, the court also fined the person in charge of the project €2,500.