CONTRACTOR PROSECUTED FOR UNSAFE SCAFFOLDING
Seriously injured workman took safety of scaffolding ‘for granted’
Ian Allan Building Contractors Ltd has been fined after a worker suffered serious injuries when he fell from unsafe scaffolding in Murton, County Durham on 1 May 2009.
Kevin Clark, aged 54, from Gateshead, was working on the windows of a new building when the scaffold platform he was standing on became dislodged and he fell more than 4m causing crushing his vertebrae and fracturing his foot. HSE investigators found the company allowed workers to use unsafe scaffolding and failed to:
- control alterations to the scaffolding;
- conduct inspections of the scaffold at least every seven days; and
- identify and correct unsafe alterations.
After sentencing, Mr Clark said:
“I took it for granted the scaffolding I was working on was safe. If it had been checked properly the incident never would have happened and I wouldn’t be left with the injuries I have to live with now.
I’ve had steel rods put in my spine, I’m in constant pain and it restricts my movement and makes walking really difficult. I’ll probably never be able to do the job I did again.
I hope this prosecution helps make other employers realise the importance of ensuring scaffolding is safe so other workers don’t have to suffer as I have.”
Scaffolding must be properly managed
Ian Allan Building Contractors Ltd, of Jesmond Road, Jesmond, Newcastle, pleaded guilty of breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay costs of £1,500 at Consett Magistrates’ Court.
After the case, HSE Construction Inspector Andrea Robbins said:
“This incident could and should have been prevented. Ian Allan Building Contractors Ltd failed in their legal duty to ensure the safety of its employees by failing to manage the scaffolding on site adequately.
As a result of these failures, Mr Clark has suffered serious injuries and is still living with the effects of those injuries more than a year and a half later.
Scaffolding is widely used as a temporary working platform or means of access and this incident clearly illustrates the absolute need to ensure that it is safe.
I’d like to stress to all companies and employees who use scaffolding that it should always be constructed to a recognised standard, any alterations should only be made by a competent person and it should be inspected by a competent person on handover and at least every seven days as work progresses.”
Latest Construction Health and Safety News
LORRY RUNAWAY CLAIMED LIFE OF DRIVER
Workman died after being drawn under trailer
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 25th April 2018PETROL VAPOUR DANGER LEFT UNCONTROLLED
Workman suffered severe burns during refuelling equipment
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 25th April 2018HSE ENFORCEMENT UPDATE 25th APRIL 2018
Prosecutions and enforcement notices update and analysis
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 25th April 2018ROPE ACCESS WORKER FELL THROUGH FRAGILE ROOF
Prison sentence imposed on owner of rope access firm
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 24th April 2018FIRMS FINED £2M OVER FALLING PIPE FATALITY
Incorrect stacking of pipes triggered fall and crushing of workman
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 20th April 2018DOMESTIC PROJECT PC HANDED JAIL TERM
Workman fell from unprotected roof edge on dormer extension
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 20th April 2018MAJOR CONTRACTOR ERRED ON FRAGILE ROOF RISK
Firms fine £965,000 after painter fell through waiting room roof
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 19th April 2018HSE ENFORCEMENT UPDATE 19th APRIL 2018
Prosecutions and enforcement notices update and analysis
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 19th April 2018STRUCTURAL SAFETY BODY LATEST NEWSLETTER
CROSS publishes reports and expert comment on a range of issues
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 18th April 2018NEW BIM SPEC FOR SHARING H&S INFORMATION
Specification for sharing health and safety info during construction projects
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 17th April 2018MANAGERS FORGED ASBESTOS DOCUMENTATION
Removal licence obtained using fake training and medical certificates
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 17th April 2018FINE OVER INCORRECT AND MISLEADING SURVEY
Specialist asbestos company failed to detect AIB on demolition project
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 17th April 2018IGNORING HSE ADVICE PENALISED BY LARGE FINE
Contractor fined over £50k for persistent WAH and welfare failings
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 17th April 2018PRISON OVER BASEMENT EXCAVATION AND COLLAPSE
Building contractor jailed after house collapsed in Brighton
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 17th April 2018DEFEATING POWER INTERLOCK CAUSED FLASHOVER
Systems for managing electrical safety found to be inadequate
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 17th April 2018LADDER SAFETY FAILURES ATTRACT MASSIVE FINE
National window firm left workers to ‘own devices’
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 12th April 2018FALLING MATERIAL STRUCK WORKMAN IN EXCAVATION
Risks of working in and near excavations highlighted by incident
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 4th April 2018HSE ENFORCEMENT WEEKLY UPDATE 4th APRIL 2018
Prosecutions and enforcement notices weekly update and analysis
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 4th April 2018HOUSING ASSOCIATION FAILED ON VIBRATION RISK
Assessment, management and health surveillance all found wanting
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 3rd April 2018OCCUPIER AND CONTRACTOR FINED OVER FALL
Employee assisting contractor fell through roof during re-roofing project
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 3rd April 2018HSE FEARFUL OF GROWING ’BLUE TAPE’ BURDEN
ISO 45001 could generate fresh business to business demands
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 3rd April 2018HSE ENFORCEMENT WEEKLY UPDATE 21st MAR 2018
Prosecutions and enforcement notices weekly update and analysis
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 28th March 2018INCIDENTS: PASSER-BY STRUCK BY BRICKS
Pack of bricks appear to have fallen from crane
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 28th March 2018HSE RECONSIDER HOW TO INFLUENCE SMALLER FIRMS
Regulator advice and messages are failing to chime with the SME businesses
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 27th March 2018