Construction Health & Safety News, Advice and Information from PP Construction Safety

Contactor fined after lengthy scaffold overturns on a public street

Scaffolding contactor B & J Scaffolding has been ordered to pay over £6k following the collapse of a scaffold on Middlesbrough street in 2008.

The 85m long scaffold toppled in the wind and collapsed into the street. The scaffold was not adequately tied to the structure and elements required to stabilise the scaffold were absent.

Scaffold may have collapsed at any time

After the case, HSE Inspector Natalie Wright said:

“The scaffold had been used as a working platform for at least five days before the incident, by workers on site carrying out work to the house fronts. It could have collapsed at any time, creating a significant risk to workers and members of the public.

This incident demonstrates how important it is for contractors to follow the requirements for the construction of scaffolds.

“Contractors need to ensure that they meet the relevant standards in their work to erect safe and stable scaffolds, so that they do not expose workers and members of the public to risk.

This article was posted on 21st July 2010 in PROSECUTIONS, SCAFFOLDING, collapse structure.
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