‘No shortcut is worth losing a life for’ – mother of man crushed in factory

THE family of a 28-year-old man killed in an accident at a concrete plant say his loss left them with a life sentence.

Barry Gargan (28) from Drogheda, Co Louth, died of severe head injuries in a workplace accident at Kilsaran Concrete on September 6, 2011.

“Barry had a heart of gold. He never caused anyone any harm. We have been left with a life sentence without him. He was my child, I will never get over his loss,” his mother Concepta Gargan said.

The jury at an inquest into her son’s death returned a verdict of death due to an industrial accident.

“We would ask anyone with concerns about safety at work, please report them. Don’t take risks. No short-cut for profit is worth losing a life,” Mrs Gargan said.

Barry Gargan was a loving son, partner and father, Dublin Coroner’s Court.

He died after he was crushed beneath a cleaning arm inside a safety cage at a Kilsaran plant in Piercetown, Dunboyne, Co Meath.

Mr. Gargan arrived in work at 6am the morning of his death. He was employed as a forklift driver but assisted in operating a machine used for the production of wet cast concrete slabs. The machine usually operated automatically but, in the mornings, it was operated manually to produce a specific style of kerb.

Working inside the safety gate, Mr. Gargan was trapped between the cleaning arm and the vibrating station as the machinery went into motion.

Previous complaints about the system had been made by staff including Mr. Gargan. A near miss accident involving the machinery had gone unreported, the inquest heard.

Staff were afraid to risk their employment by raising the issue. In such cases, employees can complain anonymously to the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), the inquest heard.