The Health and Safety Authority and the Irish Aviation Authority are investigating safety standards in Ryanair's aircraft maintenance and ground handling operations, following serious accidents to workers earlier this year.
A spokesman for the Health and Safety Authority has confirmed investigations are taking place into the two incidents. He said it would be inappropriate to comment before these had concluded.
Ryanair's chief financial officer, Mr Michael Cawley, said the company was co-operating fully with both agencies. He said it would be inappropriate to comment on the incidents, which had unfortunately happened close together. However, Ryanair would be prepared to discuss them fully once the investigation was complete.
"We have done everything required from a safety point of view," he said. "We adhere strictly to everything the IAA has required us to do." The first incident occurred at 4.22 p.m on January 22nd, when a tug which was towing a 737 aircraft ran over Mr David Thomas, a baggage handler. Mr Thomas's feet were crushed and his left leg fractured. He was one of a number of new staff employed on contract, through a recruitment company. Two days later 21 of Ryanair's own baggage handlers, members of SIPTU, called in sick in protest at their working conditions.
On March 11th, an aircraft maintenance technician, Mr Keith Chapman, lost his arm below the elbow after it was sucked into an engine while a 737 was being tested on the taxiway. He was one of a team of three technicians who had been working on the aircraft for most of the day.
It is understood they were trying to complete the maintenance checks so the aircraft would be ready for service next day. The engine was test run at 10.42 p.m. Test runs are not allowed by Aer Rianta, except in certain circumstances, between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. to comply with environmental noise standards. Airport staff who dealt with the accident are understood to have expressed concern at the inadequate lighting on the taxiway during the test.
The previous day a SIPTU official, Mr John Flannery, who represents some of the company's baggage handlers, had written to Ryanair asking for details of training on the new 737 800 series aircraft being acquired for the Ryanair fleet. The letter said the information was "essential for the protection of the company's interests and the safety and health of members". According to industry sources, a similar accident with an aircraft in the 737 800 series would have caused a fatality because of the greater suction power of the engine. So far Ryanair has not responded to Mr Flannery's request for information on training. However, on March 22nd the company did issue a health and safety memo to all ground handling staff advising them to "exercise extreme caution when we are dealing with live aircraft".
It also issued a safety booklet highlighting the danger of suction from engines. The booklet was headed "Don't Get Sucked In!" and carried a cartoon underneath of a technician being sucked into an aircraft engine. Fines of up to £1,500 can be imposed on employers for breaches of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations. There are unlimited fines for conviction on indictment. Although Ryanair was not Mr Thomas's direct employer, it is still liable under the regulations for safety standards in the baggage handling area. SIPTU declined to comment on the incidents yesterday, stating it was still hoping for a response from the company to its members' concerns. It has been using safety issues as part of the campaign to win trade union recognition. However, the company has so far refused to recognise the SIPTU representative.