Company fined for missing handrails after contractor fell from scaffold

ADVERTISEMENT

Beaudecor Ltd pleaded guilty and has been fined after a worker fell from scaffolding.

On 4 October 2016, a contractor fell from the third lift of a scaffold whilst undertaking work on the front of low rise block of flats located in the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

Injuries to the contractor were so severe he was put into an induced coma for three days. The contractor suffered a broken vertebra, several broken ribs, collapsed lung and damage to his liver from the fall.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found that Beaudecor Ltd had allowed its contractor to use a scaffold without effective edge protection, no mid rails on the scaffold sides, to prevent a person falling from either side of the scaffold on the first three levels of said scaffold.

At Westminster Magistrates Court Beaudecor Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and has been fined £3,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,900.

Speaking after the case, HSE Inspector Ian Shearring said: “The risk associated with working at height is well-known and Beaudecor Ltd failed in its duty to address this.

“Their failure was compounded by the fact that the required protective measures, mid rails, were in place on the very top level of the scaffold but not the others. Beaudecor Ltd has been held to account for failing to take adequate action to protect the health and safety of persons working on their site.”

Most popular ↑

Police appeal after ladder falls from scaffolding truck

Jersey Police are appealing for witnesses after the incident...

WorkSafe to strip SARNZ of scaffolding certification role after 20 years

New Zealand's workplace safety regulator will take control of...

Alimak agrees $142m deal for Canadian access specialist Pro-Bel

The Canadian manufacturer of building maintenance units, suspended platforms...

SAA to publish free Australian scaffolding best practice guidelines

The Scaffolding Association Australia (SAA) will launch its Australian...

Falls from height account for quarter of all work deaths, HSE says

Falls from height caused 31 worker deaths in Great...

Latest news

ADVERTISEMENT
More from
Latest articles

Australia launches national scaffolding best practice guidelines

The Scaffolding Association Australia (SAA) has launched the first version of its Australian Best...

Layher UK draws contractors to Eggborough technical open day

Layher UK welcomed scaffolding contractors, customers and industry professionals to its Eggborough depot this...

Scaffold and access industry heads to Nashville for SAIA Convention

The Scaffold & Access Industry Association will hold its annual convention at the JW...

Police appeal after ladder falls from scaffolding truck

Jersey Police are appealing for witnesses after the incident on Grande Route de la...

Alimak agrees $142m deal for Canadian access specialist Pro-Bel

The Canadian manufacturer of building maintenance units, suspended platforms and fall protection systems will...

SAA to publish free Australian scaffolding best practice guidelines

The Scaffolding Association Australia (SAA) will launch its Australian Best Practice Guidelines for Scaffolding...

WorkSafe to strip SARNZ of scaffolding certification role after 20 years

New Zealand's workplace safety regulator will take control of scaffolding Certificates of Competence from...

Falls from height account for quarter of all work deaths, HSE says

Falls from height caused 31 worker deaths in Great Britain in 2025/26, around a...