A contractor has been prosecuted for endangering members of the public and violating the Work of Height Regulations after unsecured scaffolding was blown over into a residential street.

Craven scaffolding had erected the structure outside a new gym in Hyde near Manchester, but had failed to tie it to the building and did not inspect it to ensure it was secure.

The 40-metre-wide and six-metre-high scaffold toppled in strong winds on 17 January last year, and crushed several cars parked nearby. “If it had been tied to the building, it could not have been forced over by high winds,” said HSE inspector Neil Martin.

“Craven Scaffolding had put up netting on the scaffolding to catch falling debris but it acted as a sail and pulled over the structure.”

At Trafford Magistrates’ Court, Craven admitted not carrying out a scaffold inspection in the week before the collapse, contrary to Regulation 12(4) of the Work at Height Regulations, and failing to ensure the safety of members of the public, under Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

The judge fined the company £24,000 and ordered it to pay £7000 costs.

Article created by Editor. (info@complyuk.co.uk)