Scaffold collapse may require more health and safety training
Two companies are fined for their part in a scaffold collapse that led to public endangerment. The companies are in Stoke-on-Trent. Scaffold seventy metres in length fell away from a row of houses in Hanley. The incident happened in 2011 on Wellington Road. Workers were luckily on break so no workers were hurt or killed in the incident, however there was still the potential of harm and public endangerment. It is just luck that no vehicle or person was walking by when the collapse happened. Some parked cars were damaged along with a street lamp.
The two companies were Jacko’s Scaffolding Limited and Potteries Demolition Company. Stoke City Council hired the demolition company to handle 15 terraced houses and also the demolition of Laddie Pub. Jacko’s supplied the scaffolding that fell during the incident. Health and safety audits revealed the scaffolding was not built properly for the demolition project. It was also a windy day, making the scaffold even more insecure. Jacko’s only provided the basic scaffold used for roof tile removal that does not require a bespoke design. The next stage of the demolition did need a bespoke design, but the scaffold was not changed out leading to the need for better health and safety training for the company. Had both companies had risk management knowledge they could have avoided the fines.
Jacko’s was fined 5,000 pounds and the demolition company was fined 13,320 pounds. There were additional charges for the court costs.
