SCAFFOLD COLLAPSE PROSECUTIONS

Companies and director face prosecution over Milton Keynes collapse

HSE has announced that legal proceedings have been initiated in repect of four parties involved in the Milton Keynes scaffold collapse on 11 April 2006. An independent perimeter scaffold collapsed at the McAleer & Rushe construction site in Milton Keynes and three workers who were on the scaffold sustained multiple injuries. One of the workmen, John Robinson, died 3 days later in hospital.

In January 2008 the inquest Coroner recorded a narrative verdict confirming that Mr Robinson’s death arose from injuries sustained as a result of the scaffold collapse. The HSE investigation centred on scaffold design; how the scaffold was braced, tied and inspected and; how the scaffold was loaded with materials. In 2006 HSE issued a safety alert to warn those working on similar projects to the importance of their arrangements to provide and maintain stable scaffolds.

The parties being prosecuted are:

  • McAleer & Rushe Limited, of Cookstown, Northern Ireland. Six charges in respect of alleged breaches of sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSW Act), regulations 4, 8 and 12 (4) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 (WAH Regulations), and regulation 16 (1)(a) Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994 (CDM Regulations). The company is being prosecuted both as an employer and as the principal contractor for the construction project at the site.
  • Lee Smith Carpentry Limited, of Abby Park Industrial Estate, Romsey, Hampshire. Five charges in respect of alleged breaches of sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the HSW Act, regulation 19(1)(a) of the CDM Regulations and regulations 4 and 12(4) of the WAH Regulations. The company is being charged as the employer of Mr John Robinson and Mr Mark Robinson.
  • NNM Scaffolding Limited, of Castle Street, Leicester. Five charges in respect of alleged breaches of section 3(1) of the HSW Act, regulations 7(2) and 8 of the WAH Regulations and regulation 4 of the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996 (CHSWR).
  • Mr John David King, of Alicante, Spain. Four charges in respect of alleged breaches of section 3(1) of the HSW Act, regulation 4 of the CHSW Regulations and regulations 7(2) and 8 of the WAH Regulations. Mr King is charged as a director of NNM Scaffolding Limited.

All parties have been summonsed to appear before Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court on Friday 13 February 2009.

This article was posted on 7th January 2009 in ALL LATEST NEWS, PROSECUTIONS, collapse structure.
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One Response to “SCAFFOLD COLLAPSE PROSECUTIONS”

  1. SCAFFOLD COLLAPSE PROSECUTIONS UPDATE | PP Construction Safety News Desk Says:
    February 16th, 2009 at 5:33 pm

    [...] they failed to ensure the safety of employees and others contrary to HSW Act Sections 2 and 3. The offences were committed at the Jurys Inn Hotel, Milton Keynes, construction project when a major [...]

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