Health and safety ‘gone mad’ as council workers suspended over filling pothole

Three County Council workers have been suspended after filling a pothole without the required number of workers, reports the Journal.

The suspensions were announced yesterday at a meeting of Cork County Council.

In attendance at the meeting was Fine Gael councillor Tim Lombard, who told The Journal that the suspensions represented health and safety “gone mad”.

The councillor explained that the workers – having returned from a job in the Crosshaven area of the county – had come across a pothole in the Carrigaline area and, having the materials with them to fill it, began work.

They were being observed by an inspector from the Health and Safety Authority, however, who reported them.

“They are being punished for showing initiative,” Lombard said. “People are looking for a more economic local authority and then you have this happen to three diligent men who were just doing their job,” he added.

If they did break the law, they did so while trying to do their best for people. Now we have a scared workforce who are paranoid to do anything unless all the paperwork is in place.

“Every member that spoke on the floor [of the county council meeting] yesterday was concerned about the knock-on effect of this action,” the councillor said.