Tuesday, 26 April 2011 08:14

SCAFFOLDING (MAY 2011)

Scaffolding

Fined for leaving scaffolding up too long


The death a seven-year-old, who’d managed to gain access to scaffolding, led to a successful prosecution by the HSE. What had the contractor done wrong, and how can you prevent a similarly tragic accident?

What happened?

Although scaffolding provides one of the safest working at height platforms, as this case proves, using it is not without risks. Lovell Partnerships Ltd (L) erected a scaffold so that it’s staff could safely repair a chimney flue. The plan was to put the scaffold up, complete the works, and then take it back down again shortly afterwards. However, due to an unexpected hold-up, the work was delayed and the scaffold remained in place.

 

Fatal attraction

As the scaffold was there with no one using it, some local children adopted it as a playground. They even built a den on the roof the building, However, twelve days after the scaffold was erected, seven-year-old Adam Triffin fell from it to his death.

 

Prosecution

The subsequent HSE investigation identified that the accident happened because the scaffolding had been in place for too long. The HSE Principal Inspector stated that the scaffold should have been removed promptly when it was no longer needed. In court, L was fined £75,000 and ordered to pay £46,109 in costs.

 

Tough call

We feel that L was treated harshly in this case. Although the scaffolding wasn’t being used at the time, it had been left in place so that the work could be completed at a later date. In addition, L’s staff had taken steps to prevent access to the scaffold. This included removing lower access ladders.

  Prevention

This case proves, beyond doubt, that if you’re using scaffold, you must do everything you can to prevent unauthorised access.

Tip 1. Only use scaffolding when it’s absolutely necessary to do so. In this case, the works were due to last less than an hour, so installing a full scaffold could well have been avoided. For example, access to the chinmey could have been made using a mobile elevated work platform.

Tip 2. When deciding on appropriate access equipment, you should factor in the location If, for example, you’re working in the middle of a secured and manned construction site, the chances of children getting to it are slim. But if it’s in the middle of a housing estate, the risks are far greater. This means that the steps you take to prevent access to the scaffold must reflect your assessment of the location in which it’s erected.

Tip 3. If the potential for unauthorised access exists, standard practice is to enclose the base of the scaffold with two-metre high plywood panels or something similar.

Tip 4. Your risk assessment and method statement for the works should identify how long the scaffolding is required. If, as in this case, the works programme changes, your documentation should be altered to reflect this. Whoever is in direct control of the work should be given the responsibility to ensure this happens.

Tip 5. Where practicable, the scaffold should be fully netted. This prevents access from other buildings etc., as in this case the children were climbing onto it from balconies.

 

The court fined the contractor £75,000 because it had left the scaffold in place (and accessible), when it should have been taken down. Only use scaffold when absolutely necessary, and take steps such as netting and boarding to prevent access. The level of protection needed will depend on its location.

 

Source and Ref: © 2010 Indicator Limited