A scaffolding company and its director have been fined for safety failings after a worker suffered life-changing injuries in a 2.5 metre fall from a scaffold platform at a property in Kent.

The worker, who was untrained, fell from the first lift of the scaffold as it was being dismantled. He was passing boards down to another worker when he lost his footing and fell to the concrete below.

The man, from Rainham, Kent, who does not wish to be named, suffered severe head injuries and needed surgery to remove the frontal lobe of the brain. He spent many weeks in hospital and is unlikely to be able to work again.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today (6 Nov) prosecuted Paramount Scaffolding Ltd and director Luke Jessup, both of Gillingham, Kent after investigating the incident at the house in Meopham, near Gravesend, on 25 January this year.

Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court heard that Paramount Scaffolding had a three-man team on site to dismantle the scaffolding. Director Luke Jessup was the only trained scaffolder among them.

The injured worker was standing on the first level of the scaffold and was lifting the boards and passing them to a colleague below. The platform had been six boards wide and was down to three when he lost his footing and fell. The edge protection had already been removed.

Paramount Scaffolding Ltd of Wigmore Road, Gillingham, and Luke Jessup of Wigmore Road, Gillingham, both pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. Both Paramount and Mr Jessup were fined £2,000 with £1,000 costs each.

After the hearing HSE Inspector Melvyn Stancliffe said:

"This is a very stark example of the tragedy that can result from a task carried out at height without proper thought and planning. It has resulted in life-changing injuries for the worker and has had a devastating impact on his family. In addition, Mr Jessup was a personal friend, and he also has to live with the consequences of his role in the incident.

"What happened that day was totally preventable if simple working methods had been followed and the untrained workers had been more closely and better supervised to ensure they carried out the work safely.

"The scaffolding industry has produced guidance on the safe working methods to follow and this case sadly reflects the harsh reality of not doing so."

Falls from height remains one of the most common causes of fatalities and major injuries in the construction industry, with more than five incidents every day. Information on carrying out work safely at height is available at www.hse.gov.uk/falls.

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk
2. Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 states: "Every employer shall ensure that work at height is (a) properly planned; (b) appropriately supervised; and (c) carried out in a manner which is so far as is reasonably practicable safe, and that its planning includes the selection of work equipment in accordance with regulation 7."

Source

A Lancashire builder has appeared in court after he ignored a formal warning to stop working at the top of a dangerous scaffolding tower.

Jack Sanderson (right) and another worker at the top of a dangerous scaffolding tower in Bacup

Jack Sanderson and another builder were spotted carrying out work to the roof of a two-storey building on Burnley Road in Bacup by a passing inspector from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on 26 January last year.

The inspector could see there were no handrails or toe boards around the platform at the top of the tower to protect the workers from falling some seven metres to the ground. He immediately issued a Prohibition Notice ordering the men to come down from the unsafe scaffolding.

However, just three hours later, the inspector returned and found both men back at the top of the tower but still with no safety precautions in place.

Accrington Magistrates' Court was told today (22 November 2012) that Mr Sanderson had put his own life and the life of the worker he employed at risk by failing to put measures in place to prevent them falling.

An investigation by HSE found Mr Sanderson had been working on a renovation project on a terraced property, next to a row of shops and bus stop. This meant that passers-by were also put at risk of being struck by falling building materials.

Jack Sanderson, of Bear Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty to two breaches of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and one of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

The charges related to failing to take suitable measures to prevent workers being injured in a fall, failing to prevent injuries being caused by falling building materials, and failing to comply with a Prohibition Notice.

Mr Sanderson, who is currently in prison for another unrelated offence, was fined £2,000 with no costs.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector David Myrtle said:

"Mr Sanderson was given a chance to put things right when he received a Prohibition Notice but he chose to ignore it. He found himself in court as a result.

"Several lives were put at risk because the scaffolding wasn't safe to use, including the lives of another worker and members of the public doing their shopping on the street below.

"This case should act as a warning to those working in the construction industry that if they ignore formal enforcement notices issued by HSE then they are likely to face prosecution."

The latest figures show that 38 people died as a result of a fall in a workplace in Great Britain in 2010/11, and more than 4,000 suffered a major injury. Information on preventing falls is available at www.hse.gov.uk/falls.

Paramount Scaffolding Ltd and company director Luke Jessup have been fined for safety failings after a worker suffered life-changing injuries in a 2.5 metre fall from a scaffold platform at a property near Gravesend, Kent on 25 January 2012.

Sevenoaks Magistrates heard (6 Nov) that a three-man team were on site to dismantle the scaffolding and that director Luke Jessop was the only trained scaffolder. The workman fell from the first lift of the scaffold as it was being dismantled.

He was passing boards down to another worker when he lost his footing and fell to the concrete below. The platform was originally six boards wide and comprised three boards when he fell. The edge protection had been removed. The fall caused severe head injuries and he is unlikely to be able to work again.

Simple safe working methods and supervision required

Paramount Scaffolding Ltd and Luke Jessup of Gillingham, both pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and both were fined £2,000 with £1,000 costs each.

After the hearing HSE Inspector Melvyn Stancliffe said:

“This is a very stark example of the tragedy that can result from a task carried out at height without proper thought and planning. It has resulted in life-changing injuries for the worker and has had a devastating impact on his family. In addition, Mr Jessup was a personal friend, and he also has to live with the consequences of his role in the incident.

What happened that day was totally preventable if simple working methods had been followed and the untrained workers had been more closely and better supervised to ensure they carried out the work safely.

The scaffolding industry has produced guidance on the safe
working methods to follow and this case sadly reflects the harsh reality of not doing so.”

 

A Leicestershire house builder has been fined after two self-employed bricklayers fell more than two metres from a scaffold.

Darren Bird and James Allies were contracted to help build houses at a small development in Normanton, near Bottesford, by Cairns Heritage Homes No2 Limited.

On 8 December 2011 the two men were fitting a wall plate and finishing off the brickwork near the top of a house. Mr Bird had opened the scaffold's loading bay gate ready for a telehandler to lift mortar on to it when he and Mr Allies felt the scaffold shake. Mr Bird fell against Mr Allies, who was crouching down, and both men fell into the first floor of the house.

picture is a representation

Mr Bird, 43, of Newstead Village, Nottingham, suffered severe bruising and tissue damage to his hip, pelvis and neck and lacerations to his face, arm and stomach. He recently returned to work but will require long-term physiotherapy.

Mr Allies, 44, of Wollaton, Nottingham, suffered muscle and nerve damage to his neck and back and bruised his shoulder, leg, face and arms. He has not yet returned to work.

Leicester Magistrates were told today (7 September) that a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that although the company had a policy of installing fall protection nets when installing roof trusses, the internal fall risk area was left unprotected until that stage.

Cairns Heritage Homes No2 Limited, of Old Parsonage Lane, Horton, Loughborough, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1)(c) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. Magistrates fined the company £6,500 and ordered it to pay costs of £1,836

After the hearing, HSE inspector Tony Mitchell said:

"This incident could have been prevented by thinking through the need for fall protection for the whole job, not just part of it. This was a high-risk activity and builders should not become complacent about ensuring that adequate safety measures are in place for the full duration of the work.

"Unfortunately, this lack of forethought resulted in two men receiving debilitating injuries."

For information on work at height go to www.hse.gov.uk/falls

A Norwich scaffolding firm has been fined after a self-employed aircraft painter was injured after falling more than two metres when a wooden scaffold board broke.

The 37-year-old, from Basildon Essex, who does not wish to be named, was working on an aircraft at the Air Livery, Aviation Way, Southend on Sea, Essex when the incident happened on 30 January 2011.

Southend Magistrates' Court heard today (5th September) that scaffolding had been put up around the aircraft by DSJ Scaffolding Limited to allow access.

The aircraft painter was on the first level of the scaffold arrangement when he walked onto a wooden bridging board which broke, causing him to fall more than two metres to the ground below.

He suffered injuries to his back and knees which prevented him from playing with his children or do normal things for some months afterwards. He still has problems with his knees and two lumps are still present more than a year after the incident. He also suffers from panic attacks.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that the condition of the plywood bridging board had deteriorated significantly and the layers had started to separate. The damage was clearly visible at the time the board was placed on the scaffold and it should not have been used.

DSJ Scaffolding Limited, of Staden Park, Trimingham, Norwich, pleaded guilty to of breaching Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay £1,500 in costs.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector Corinne Godfrey said:

"This incident was entirely preventable. The damage to the wooden board was clearly visible, it should never have been used and there were alternative metal bridging boards readily available.

"It is well established that the consequences of falling from such a height, of over two metres, can cause serious harm. The injured man was lucky not to have sustained more serious injuries and indeed injured others working beneath him as he fell."

Last year (2010-11), more than 1,300 falls from an unspecified height were reported resulting in serious injuries. To learn more about working at height, visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/index.htm

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk
2. Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states: "In such cases as may be prescribed, it shall be the duty of every employer and every self-employed person, in the prescribed circumstances and in the prescribed manner, to give to persons (not being his employees) who may be affected by the way in which he conducts his undertaking the prescribed information about such aspects of the way in which he conducts his undertaking as might affect their health or safety."

Press enquiries

Regional reporters should call the appropriate Regional News Network press office.

Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by the Regional News Network

A Leicestershire house builder has been fined after two self-employed bricklayers fell more than two metres from a scaffold.

Darren Bird and James Allies were contracted to help build houses at a small development in Normanton, near Bottesford, by Cairns Heritage Homes No2 Limited.

On 8 December 2011 the two men were fitting a wall plate and finishing off the brickwork near the top of a house. Mr Bird had opened the scaffold's loading bay gate ready for a telehandler to lift mortar on to it when he and Mr Allies felt the scaffold shake. Mr Bird fell against Mr Allies, who was crouching down, and both men fell into the first floor of the house.

Mr Bird, 43, of Newstead Village, Nottingham, suffered severe bruising and tissue damage to his hip, pelvis and neck and lacerations to his face, arm and stomach. He recently returned to work but will require long-term physiotherapy.

Mr Allies, 44, of Wollaton, Nottingham, suffered muscle and nerve damage to his neck and back and bruised his shoulder, leg, face and arms. He has not yet returned to work.

Leicester Magistrates were told today (7 September) that a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that although the company had a policy of installing fall protection nets when installing roof trusses, the internal fall risk area was left unprotected until that stage.

Cairns Heritage Homes No2 Limited, of Old Parsonage Lane, Horton, Loughborough, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1)(c) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. Magistrates fined the company £6,500 and ordered it to pay costs of £1,836

After the hearing, HSE inspector Tony Mitchell said:

"This incident could have been prevented by thinking through the need for fall protection for the whole job, not just part of it. This was a high-risk activity and builders should not become complacent about ensuring that adequate safety measures are in place for the full duration of the work.

"Unfortunately, this lack of forethought resulted in two men receiving debilitating injuries."

For information on work at height go to www.hse.gov.uk/falls

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice, promoting training, new or revised regulations and codes of practice, and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk
2. Regulation 4(1)(c) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 states: "Every employer shall ensure that work at height is carried out in a manner which is so far as is reasonably practicable safe."

Press enquiries

Regional reporters should call the appropriate Regional News Network press office.

Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by the Regional News Network

Picture is only a representation of scaffolding incident. 

Firm fined after two bricklayers fall into first floor from external scaffold 

Cairns Heritage Homes No2 Limited has been prosecuted after two bricklayers fell more than 2m from a scaffold on a homes development in Normanton, near Bottesford in December 2011.

The two men were installing a wall plate and finishing off brickwork near the top of a house. One man opened the scaffold loading bay gate for a telehandler lifting mortar when he and his fellow worker ”felt the scaffold shake” and both fell into the first floor of the house suffering serious injury.

Risk of internal fall from scaffold left unprotected

Leicester Magistrates heard (7 September) that HSE investigators found the company had a policy of using fall protection nets when installing roof trusses but the internal fall risk was left unprotected until that stage.

Cairns Heritage Homes No2 Limited, of Old Parsonage Lane, Horton, Loughborough, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1)(c) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. Magistrates fined the company £6,500 and ordered it to pay costs of £1,836

After the hearing, HSE inspector Tony Mitchell said:

“This incident could have been prevented by thinking through the need for fall protection for the whole job, not just part of it. This was a high-risk activity and builders should not become complacent about ensuring that adequate safety measures are in place for the full duration of the work.

Unfortunately, this lack of forethought resulted in two men receiving debilitating

Canada

Toronto worker killed in fall from scaffold

A masonry worker sustained fatal head injuries yesterday in a 6-metre fall from scaffolding while working on a residential property on Fifeshire Road, Toronto.

A safety probe is under way today after a man died when scaffolding collapsed in the garden of a house.

Kent Police have referred the case to the Health and Safety Executive following the death of a man in his 50s in Sittingbourne.

The victim is believed to have been painting the side of a house in Chalkway Road when the structure gave way yesterday.

An HSE inspector has already visited the site and inquiries will continue.

The man suffered serious head injuries in the accident at a semi-detached house at just after 11am, but was pronounced dead at the scene.

An air ambulance landed in Milton Recreation Ground, off Vicarage Road, with the team making their way to the property on foot.

Despite medics' best efforts, the man could not be revived.

The road was closed by police until around 3pm. Fire crews were also at the scene – removing scaffolding to allow paramedics to treat the man.

Witness Stuart Somers said the collapse happened at a house next to the yard of Hubbard and Houghton Construction.

Speaking from the scene, he said: "You can see the scaffolding tower that's collapsed. You can see the top of it at a jaunty angle underneath the side wall of the house.

"There's fresh paint at the apex of the roof. It looks as though the man has been painting the top of the house and for some reason the scaffolding tower has collapsed.

"I saw some completely distraught people on the pavement nearby in an absolute state of bewilderment and crying their eyes out. They were being consoled by the police."

Police block Chalkwell Road after a man died in a scaffolding collapse