Scaffolding safety professional negligence leads to HSE prosecution

A scaffolding company has been fined after unsafe scaffolding crashed to the ground in strong winds.

Terrence Foster and Shaun Greenslade of Scaffolding Systems South West were fined £8,000 and £5,000 respectively for erecting unsafe scaffolding which fell away in high winds and seriously damaged a number of parked cars.

Andrew Kingscott, HSE inspector, stated: "The degree of risk and danger to workers and the public was considerable.

"The standards of the scaffold as installed fell far short of the appropriate level."

Mr Kingscott warned that the incident could have resulted in significant human tragedy and should act as a "wake-up call" to scaffolders.

Exeter Magistrates Courts head how the netting used by the defendants to fix the scaffolding extended almost a metre and a half above the roof of the building and was attached to the inside edge of the scaffold instead of the outside.

This acted as a sail in the high wind and caused the scaffold to collapse.

In order to ensure the safe erection of scaffolding, companies should follow MASC guidance document SG4 for tube and fitting scaffolds or the manufacturers' erection guide.

Scaffolds should be put up by a trained professional and any proposed modifications outside a generally recognised standard configuration should be designed by a competent person,

Published by Kevin Round