September
2009
Scaffolding Firm Fined after it Pleads Guilty to Negligence of Safety Standards
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is advising scaffolding companies to be more conscious about safety standards following a June 2006 incident in which scaffolding collapsed in an industrial division in Caerphilly.
A Cardiff-based scaffolding company called Linmar Scaffolding Ltd was held responsible for the collapse of the unprotected structure and was subsequently taken to court. Luckily, no one was hurt by the collapse, which took place just before the workers from the next shift were to arrive at the site.
The company pleaded guilty to violating regulation 8 (b) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 at the Abergavenny Magistrates’ Court in September 2009. The Court ordered it to pay a fine of 1,800 pounds and 5,400 pounds towards costs.
Inspector Dean Baker of the HSE said the most fundamental part of the construction was to secure the scaffolding to the main building, which was not done properly by following safety standards. He said it was ironic that the company deals in constructing scaffoldings, yet had failed to stabilize the scaffolding using the right kind of ties.
He said the scaffolding stood upright for just 11 days before it fell, which shows that there was always a risk from the structure even as it was being used by the workers. Baker informed that the CCTV tape showed there were people standing near the structure just two minutes before it fell. He added that it was fortunate the structure fell 20 minutes before the batches of workers were slated to change their shift, or else the accident could have taken a toll of many lives. For those responsible for health and safety in organisations, a CPP Course will help to learn about and develop practical skills in the importance of promoting a positive health and safety culture in the workplace environment.
