Friday, August 29, 2025
15.1 C
London

The Voice of Scaffolding Since 2008ย  |ย  U.K. Edition

Firm fined after scaffolding collapses at school

- Advertisement -

A scaffolding company has been fined over ยฃ24K after scaffolding they had erected collapsed onto a neighbouring primary school.

Scaffolders from Swain Scaffolding had erected a 7m high gable end scaffold on a residential property in Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan. Cardiff Magistrates’ Court heard that on 5 May 2017 at around 1:30pm, the scaffold collapsed onto a single storeyย roof above the playground of a neighbouringย school.

Shockingly at the same time, a group of young children wasย playing just meters away from the collapse, while just minutes before, the playgroundย had been full of schoolchildren on their lunch break.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the scaffolding was not designed or installed to withstand foreseeable loads. It was not tied to the adjacent building, nor did it have adequate buttressing or rakers and was essentially a freestanding structure. The investigation found that it was almost inevitable that the scaffolding would collapse, even in unremarkable weather conditions.

Swain Scaffolding Limited basedย in Cardiff was found guilty of breaching the Construction Design and Management Regulations and was fined ยฃ24,000 and ordered to pay ยฃ3452.50 in costs.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Gemma Pavey commented: โ€œFailure to adequately design and install scaffolding, so that it can withstand foreseeable loads, creates risk to workers and members of the public who could be injured by an uncontrolled collapse.

โ€œCompanies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.โ€

- Advertisement -

Popular Categories

Most Read >

Game changing UK-First in Scaffolding Innovation under the Forth Road Bridgeย 

Layher pioneers its advanced cantilever technique with Hardrock Scaffolding...

SMART Scaffolder to unveil new mobile app at ScaffEx25

SMART Scaffolder will launch its latest mobile app, SMART...

Scaffolding design platform ScaffPlan to feature at Trimble event

ScaffPlan, the scaffolding design and management platform, is set...

Scaffolders Could Down Tools in Heatwave Under New HSE Proposals

Scaffolders could be given the right to stop work...

Scaffolders take on 50-mile run to help colleagueโ€™s baby daughter

Two scaffolders from Northamptonshire are preparing to run an...
- Advertisements -

Related Articles >

Scaffolders Could Down Tools in Heatwave Under New HSE Proposals

Scaffolders could be given the right to stop work during extreme heat under plans being developed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The proposals, aimed at protecting manual workers from heat stress, would...

Latest Topics

Shaun Ryder tipped as VIP guest at ScaffEx25 awards

Musician Shaun Ryder is rumoured to be among the...

Leachโ€™s secures exclusive deal to supply Staht Digital Pull Testers to Scaffolders

Leachโ€™s has signed an exclusive agreement to supply Stahtโ€™s...

Game changing UK-First in Scaffolding Innovation under the Forth Road Bridgeย 

Layher pioneers its advanced cantilever technique with Hardrock Scaffolding...

Scaffolders take on 50-mile run to help colleagueโ€™s baby daughter

Two scaffolders from Northamptonshire are preparing to run an...
- Advertisement -