Workman fell in absence of guard rails and fall arrest system

SP Scaffolding (East Anglia) Limited has been fined after a workman fell from the second lift of a scaffold whilst it was being dismantled in February 2015.

The 39 years old fell approximately 5m and collided with scaffolding twice before finally hitting the ground below. He sustained nine broken ribs, a punctured lung, fractured skull and a fractured spleen.

Colchester Magistrates heard that HSE investigators found there were no guard rails on the area from where he was working and he was not provided with a harness and lanyard to arrest a fall.

Training of workers essential

SP Scaffolding (East Anglia) Limited of Gosbecks Road, Colchester, Essex pleaded guilty to breaching Work at height Regulations 2005, regulation 6(3) and were fined £8,000 with costs of £3,003.

Speaking after the hearing HSE Inspector Julie Rayner, said:

“This incident could easily have been avoided had a guard rail been in place or if Mr Hemphill had been provided with a harness & lanyard to wear which was clipped on when he was working.

 

 

The guidance relating to scaffolding is very clear – no person working on a scaffold, whether putting it up or taking it down should be in any area unless it has a guard rail or they are wearing suitable fall arrest harnesses which are clipped on.

This case clearly highlights the need to ensure that all people working for you, employees or not are suitably trained and that they know the required standards and implement them.”

(source)

 

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