Scaffolding fall results in company fine

An investigation by the HSE has led to a construction company being fined after a worker suffered life changing injuries falling from scaffolding.

R J Scaffolding (Bristol) Limited was fined after a worker fell more than six metres from scaffolding, leading to him being in an induced coma for two weeks with several serious injuries, such as five skull fractures and losing the sight in his right eye.

The HSE conducted an investigation into the incident and found the employee was untrained, the supervisor was unfamiliar with the current expected safety techniques and the appropriate equipment had not been provided to the worker to conduct this work safely.

R J Scaffolding (Bristol) Limited of Central Business Park, Hengrove, Bristol pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and has been fined £26,000, with costs of £1657.76.

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Ian Whittles said: “We want all workers to go home healthy and safe. Those in control of work have a responsibility to ensure safe methods of working are used and to inform, instruct and train their workers in their use.

“If industry recognised safe systems of erecting scaffold had been in place prior to the incident, the life changing injuries sustained by the employee could have been prevented.”

 

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