Workers spotted on unsafe scaffolding

A building firm has been prosecuted after two workers were spotted replacing guttering in high winds, while using unsafe scaffolding.
R Hamer Ltd appeared at Trafford Magistartes’ Court on 30 August after a member of the public reported the work to the HSE.
When an inspector visited the site in Bradshaw on 1 February, he found the men on two badly-erected scaffolding towers with an unsecured board being used as a walkway between them.
The court heard that there was no edge protection on the scaffolding, such as handrails or toe boards, and the workers were not using harnesses to prevent them from being injured in a fall. In addition, one of the men was seen climbing down the outside of the scaffolding, rather than using the access ladder.
The inspector immediately issued a Prohibition Notice ordering the workers to come down from the scaffolding until it had been made safe.
R Hamer Ltd, of Dene Bank in Bradshaw pleaded guilty to a breach of regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and received a 12 month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £562 in costs.
Following the hearing, HSE Inspector Grayam Barnes said: “I would like to thank the person who contacted the HSE about the scaffolding as the men could easily have been seriously injured or even killed in a fall if the work had continued.
“They were working on scaffolding with numerous missing safety features, and an unsecured board linking the two towers. The fact that they were working in high winds increased the risks to them even further.”
The Safety Conversation Podcast: Listen now!
The Safety Conversation with SHP (previously the Safety and Health Podcast) aims to bring you the latest news, insights and legislation updates in the form of interviews, discussions and panel debates from leading figures within the profession.
Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, subscribe and join the conversation today!
Workers spotted on unsafe scaffolding
A building firm has been prosecuted after two workers were spotted replacing guttering in high winds, while using unsafe scaffolding.
Safety & Health Practitioner
SHP - Health and Safety News, Legislation, PPE, CPD and Resources Related Topics
Company fined £800k after worker dies at wind farm construction site
Approach with caution – choosing the right wellbeing practitioner
Company fined after worker killed by telehandler
May I ask if there are any available photgraphs relating to this? If they could be made available ‘the picture paints a thousand words’ would apply.
Hi Geoff, unfortunately not. Do let us know if there is further detail we can send you though.