£160k fine after passer-by hit by scaffold clip

A pedestrian was hit on the head by a scaffold clip while he was walking along a London street. The firm involved has been fined after it was found to have ignored its own risk assessments.

Westminster Magistrates Court was told that, on 20 March 2017, the injured person was walking along Upper Street in Islington, London when he was hit on the head by the clip, which fell approximately 20m (60 ft.).

He sustained numerous cuts to his head and face, a broken nose and a severely bruised skull.

Did not follow risk assessments

Alandale Plant & Scaffolding Ltd of Beckenham, Kent pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £160,000 and ordered to pay costs of £7,059.08 and a victim surcharge of £170.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Sarah Robinson commented: “This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices.

“On this occasion the company did not follow their own risk assessments or method statements.”

Approaches to managing the risks associated Musculoskeletal disorders

In this episode of the Safety & Health Podcast, we hear from Matt Birtles, Principal Ergonomics Consultant at HSE’s Science and Research Centre, about the different approaches to managing the risks associated with Musculoskeletal disorders.

Matt, an ergonomics and human factors expert, shares his thoughts on why MSDs are important, the various prevalent rates across the UK, what you can do within your own organisation and the Risk Management process surrounding MSD’s.

Listen now!