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Roofworker seriously injured after scaffold opened like a ’trapdoor’

Advanced Scaffolding Ltd of Bridlington has been ordered to pay over £6k in fines and prosecution costs after a contractor from the roofline of a domestic two-storey property on in April 2009.

The court heard that the scaffold beneath him ‘swung open like a trapdoor’ causing him to plunge almost 6m.

He fractured three ribs, small bones at the base of his back and also sustained head injuries in the fall. 

Scaffolding poorly planned and constructed

Magistrates heard that the scaffolding was erected two days earlier by Bridlington-based Advanced Scaffolding (GB) Ltd. The installation was signed off by the company but HSE found it was not of suitable strength or rigidity for its intended purpose.

The scaffolding was compromised by a bay window at the front of the property, which required a cantilever projection to be added. This projection was poorly planned, and was not properly braced or supported.

HSE inspector Geoff Clark said:

“Mr Martin suffered terrible injuries from his fall at St Aiden Road, and could quite easily have been killed. The scaffolding was poorly planned and poorly constructed, and Advanced Scaffolding clearly failed to install a structure that was fit for purpose in this regard.

“Too many lives are shattered as a result of falls from height at work, and I hope today’s prosecution serves to remind all employers that proper precautions must be taken at all times.”

Comment

This incident and prosecution comes at a time when the National Access and Scafolding Association has just announced a decline in accidents within NASC member organisations.

This article was posted on 16th July 2010 in ALL LATEST NEWS, PROSECUTIONS, SCAFFOLDING, collapse structure.
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