BAM Construction has been fined £40,000 after spilling scaffolding tubes and injuring a scaffolder.

The large well-known construction company was fined after Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard about the incident. On 9th December 2015 a pack of scaffolding tubes was being lifted by a crane onto a platform that was two stories above the gantry below. The crane driver could not see the load, and was being assisted by a slinger-signaller working from the platform.

The load clipped the edge of the platform and tipped, spilling scaffolding tubes onto the gantry and injuring a scaffolder who was working there.

Existing measures to control access to nearby areas during lifting operations were enhanced following the incident

BAM Construction Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 8(1) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. It was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay costs of £8,700.

HSE inspector Stephron Baker Holmes said after the hearing: “Construction companies should think carefully about how best to prevent loads being lifted over people who may be working in areas nearby. In some cases it may be possible to restrict access to a particular area while lifting operations are being carried out above.”