A building site in north Dublin has been temporarily closed by the High Court after complaints by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) of "systemic" breaches of regulations.
The court heard a safety inspector had described the site at Donaghmede as "one of the most unsafe" he had ever inspected.
The Authority also alleged there have been two near fatal accidents relating to the operation of the site, including one where a woman had to be cut out of her car after a large quantity of mesh fell on it.
Ms Justice Mary Laffoy made the order prohibiting Coalport Building Co Ltd, which is building an apartment complex, from using the site until measures have been taken in relation to alleged breaches of health and safety regulations.
The order in relation to the site at Priory Hall, Hole In the Wall Road, Donaghmede, Dublin is to stay in place until next Monday.
Declan McGrath BL, for the HSA, earlier told the court there have been problems on the site going back to June 2004.
He said of particular concern was two near fatal accidents.
He referred to the incident in March 2005 in which mesh weighing one ton fell on a car which was driving past.
And last week, a part of the scaffolding board fell on a passing car which was being driven by an elderly lady. In both cases the drivers were shocked but not injured.
Counsel said the problems with safety on the site are so systemic the HSA was compelled to make the application to the court for a closure order.
In an affidavit, a health and safety officer, Mr David O'Connell, who inspected the site last week after the accident with the scaffolding, said it was only good fortune that the driver of the passing car was not seriously injured.
He said the site was one of the most unsafe sites he had ever inspected and its use as a place of work should be immediately prohibited.
Mr McGrath said the HSA would normally seek to agree the voluntary closure of the site but it has no faith that such a closure would bring about the desired changes.