Visibility 'very poor' when man crushed to death at Dublin quarry, inquest hears

A 30-year-old man suffered fatal crush injuries when he was struck by a shovel loader at a Dublin quarry in "total darkness," an inquest has heard. Christopher Miley, from Co Wicklow, was delivering diesel at Behan Quarry in Rathcoole when the incident occurred on October 28th, 2021.

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Operators at the quarry and a contractor faced significant fines following a Health and Safety Authority investigation. Shannon Valley Plant Hire, Miley's contracted employer, was fined €600,000, while quarry operator L Behan Aggregates and Recycling received a €50,000 penalty for breaches of health-and-safety legislation. The contractor failed to have specific written procedures for refuelling on site, and neither company ensured adequate artificial lighting outside daylight hours.

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It was wet and visibility was very poor. There was a problem with the light at the back of the shovel [loader] and the windscreen washers weren’t working.

Evidence from the shovel loader driver, Fergal Davidson, was presented at Dublin District Coroner’s Court. Davidson stated he did not see Miley at any time prior to the accident, noting the area was dark, wet, and had poor visibility. The light at the back of the loader was faulty, and the windscreen washers were not working. Despite the vehicle being equipped with sensors and cameras, they did not detect Miley.

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At this point, I knelt down beside him and started telling him it was going to be all right and started saying the Hail Mary.

A fellow worker, Cathal Smyth, described hearing Davidson "roar" after the incident and found Miley unresponsive. A Dublin Fire Brigade paramedic pronounced Miley dead at the scene shortly after 7 a.m., describing his injuries as "incompatible with life."

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incompatible with life