Scaffold collapse lands contractor with £160,000 fine
A firm has been fined £160,000 after scaffolding collapsed during an attempted dismantling on a street in Maidenhead, Berkshire.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector said high winds caused the scaffold to act as ‘a giant sail’ and to topple over into the street.
The April 2018 incident happened when a worker – who was not adequately trained, according to the HSE – was removing scaffold ties.
it was ‘fortunate nobody was injured’, the inspector said.
At High Wycombe Magistrates Court, Formula Scaffolding (London) was found guilty in its absence of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act.
‘This was a very serious incident and it is fortunate nobody was injured as a result of it,’ said HSE inspector John Caboche. ‘Those in control of work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working, ensure that their workforce is adequately trained and provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers in the safe system of working.’
The firm was fined £160,000 and ordered to pay costs of £11,533.