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 ↑

Australia steps up push for scaffolding to gain skilled-trade status

Scaffolding Association Australia has taken its campaign for formal trade recognition and a structured apprenticeship pathway to federal decision-makers in Canberra.

£4.5m scaffolding framework opens for contractors in North East and Yorkshire

Beyond Housing has opened bidding for a £4.5m scaffolding framework covering planned and reactive works across Redcar and Cleveland and parts of North Yorkshire.

London developer fined after required roof scaffold was never provided

A London developer and its director have been fined after unsafe roof work continued despite a subcontractor’s risk assessment identifying scaffolding as a required control.

Bamboo scaffolder recounts dismantling fire-damaged Wang Fuk Court

Hong Kong scaffolder Yip Hon-ying has described how a 30-strong team spent 3 months removing fire-damaged bamboo scaffold from 7 blocks at Wang Fuk Court.

SMART Scaffolder to unveil AI-powered voice reporting at ScaffEx26

SMART Scaffolder will use ScaffEx26 to introduce a new AI-powered reporting system that allows scaffolders to complete digital forms using natural speech.

Latest news

Acrow set to complete AGIS acquisition as industrial access expansion accelerates

Australian scaffolding and construction services group Acrow is preparing to complete its acquisition of AusGroup Industrial Services as it pushes deeper into industrial access across Queensland’s resources and infrastructure markets.
- Advertisement -
More from

London developer fined after required roof scaffold was never provided

A London developer and its director have been fined after unsafe roof work continued despite a subcontractor’s risk assessment identifying scaffolding as a required control.

Company fined after worker dies in six-foot scaffold fall

A Lancashire sign-fitting company and its director have been prosecuted after a worker died from head injuries sustained in...

Scaffolding Company Hit with £30,000 Fine Over Safety Lapses

A Merseyside scaffolding company has been fined £30,800 after an investigation found workers had been using an unsafe scaffold...

Scaffolding Firm Fined £28,000 After Tool Falls into Busy Street

A scaffolding company has been fined £28,000 after a tool fell from height into a busy street, narrowly missing...
Latest articles