Contractors face new responsibilities for labour supplied through subcontracting chains as expanded right-to-work rules come into force.

Planning permissions for new homes in England have fallen to their lowest quarterly level since 2012, raising questions over the volume of residential work likely to reach scaffolding contractors further down the construction pipeline.

W G Carter has been fined £120,000 after carpenter Richard “Felix” Roper suffered fatal injuries in a fall during building work, with HSE pointing to safer access and work sequencing.

A Queensland coroner has called for mandatory additional controls on freestanding tower scaffolds in public places after finding that the industry’s accepted height-to-base rule of thumb was not enough to protect against strong winds.

A Guardian column has brought wider attention to recruitment pressures already affecting scaffolding contractors.

PERI UK has appointed Craig McDonnell as engineering director, with responsibility for its nationwide engineering teams and the design of scaffolding, formwork and temporary works solutions.