Scaffolding Mistakes lead to convictions

We recently reported on figures from the HSE showing a drop in fatalities. Sadly though, this month there has been bad news in the industry with a number of court cases receiving media attention, one unfortunately regarding a tragic fatality. The scaffolding boss responsible has now been jailed for 15 months following the fatal, 14m fall of one of his staff in North West London back in July. HSE established that edge protection was missing from the scaffold, and that no other means of protection such as a fall arrest harness was provided, to prevent or mitigate a fall.

In another case a scaffolder, from the West Midlands, has received a four month suspended prison sentence and been ordered to pay compensation and costs in excess of £3k after a gin wheel he installed fell and fractured the skull of a sub-contract roofer.

These are just a couple of examples of preventable accidents which highlight the importance of following health and safety guidelines. Both could have been avoided.