Scaffolder hits overhead power line
A specialist glasshouse contractor has been fined more than £330,000 after a scaffolder came into contact with an 11kV overhead power line. Beverley Magistrates’ Court heard that on 3 December 2018, a subcontractor scaffolding worker was unloading some scaffolding tubes near power cables in Willerby, Hull, when one of the tubes caught the overhead line. The scaffolder sustained burns to...
Scaffolder and Roofer Sentenced After Fatal Fall from Height
An unqualified scaffolder and roofer have been sentenced following a fatal fall from a scaffold ladder access at a two-storey terraced house in Wimbledon. Southwark Crown Court heard that on 26 November 2018, Philip Drinkwater and Anthony Bradley were working on the roof, which was accessed using a ladder and scaffold that had been erected by Dean Glen. Later that day,...
Energy giant to stand trial over death of offshore scaffolder
BP is facing trial over the death of a scaffolder who fell from a North Sea oil platform. Scaffolder Sean Anderson 43, from the Tyne and Wear, was part of a team carrying out routine maintenance on BP’s Unity platform when the incident happened on 4th September 2014. Mr Anderson worked for the industrial services firm Cape when he fell from...
Massive fine given after lifting operation goes wrong
Two construction companies have been fined more than £350,000 after a worker was seriously injured when a part of an air conditioning plant fell on him while it was being lowered from a roof. Southwark Crown Court heard that in November 2017 three roofers had been working on Bromley High Street in London, finishing off a large roof refurbishment project. The...
Company fined for Work at Height failings
A construction company has been fined after putting its workers at significant risk of a fall from height while working on a roof in Blackpool. A Magistrates’ Court in the town heard how on two occasions, in July 2019, two employees of Ron Richardson Construction Ltd were observed waterproofing a flat roof at fifth-floor level in Harrow Place, Blackpool close...
Company fined for breaching work at height regs
A construction company has been fined after HSE inspectors found unsafe working at height practises and other unsafe site operations during a routine inspection. Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court heard that on 8 October 2019, a routine inspection was undertaken at a construction site in Redditch, Worcestershire following a report of a fall from height. During the inspection there was evidence of...
Worker injured after working platform failed
Two construction companies have been sentenced following an incident were a plastic working platform failed and a bricklayer using the platform was injured. Durham Crown Court heard how, on 1 July 2019, Dere Street Homes Limited was acting as principal contractor and provided components for a proprietary polypropylene working platform at a new build at Marley Fields, Wheatley Hill, County...
Firm and boss fined after two workers fall from scaffold tower
A north-west roofing supplies firm and its director have been fined after two workers fell from a scaffold, sustaining serious injuries. Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard how in November 2018, two employees of Rooffabs Direct Ltd had been working with the firms boss Paul McMahon, the sole director of the company, to install signage at retail premises in Prestwich. The workers used...
London scaffolding firm fined £160,000 after scaffold collapse
A scaffolding firm has been fined for safety failings after scaffolding collapsed on to a street in Maidenhead while it was being dismantled. High Wycombe Magistrates Court heard how the collapse could have resulted in serious injury or loss of life. An investigation was carried out by the Health and Safety Executive following the incident that occurred on 30 April 2018. It...
Scaffolding firm fined £5K after scaffolder fell eight-meters
A scaffolding company has been fined £5000 after one of its workers fell from an eight-meter-high scaffold. JR Scaffolding Services has claimed responsibility in court after a cantilever scaffold collapsed leaving a scaffolder with serious injuries in September 2016. The 47-year-old scaffolder sustained a collapsed lung, a ruptured spleen, and multiple rib and shoulder fractures. His spleen was also removed as...
