Page 728 - Xmo Strata - Bulletin Archive

Health, Safety & Environmental Bulletin No 263

S Martin – 1 September 2011

Unsecured scaffolding causes safety hazard

Xmo Strata electrician Steve Knights discovered a serious breach of health and safety
after seeing photos of his 11-year old nephew on top of his mother in law’s house.

The child had reached the roof after climbing up scaffolding that had been left unsecured
by the local council for four months.

On closer inspection Steve discovered that the ‘scafftag’, a required document attached
to the scaffolding, said that it had been erected in February – the incident took place in
June. During the intervening months there had been gale-force winds and the
scaffolding should have been checked for damage – which hadn’t happened.

Steve Knights immediately informed the council, and contractors arrived the following
day and fitted a board, making access to the ladders difficult, and inspected the
scaffolding to ensure that any contractors using it afterwards would be safe.

“I understand that the scaffolders had actually forgotten about the job,” said Steve, who
uses scaffolds in the course of his own work and has been trained in their use. “This
wasn’t on a fenced-off building site or anything, not that that would have been an
excuse; it was in the back garden of a family home and there were multiple breeches of
professional procedures. The ladders giving access to the scaffold had been left in
position, and there had been no attempt to restrict access.

“This was a clear breach of safety legislation and could have resulted in my nephew
falling from a two story building.”

Our thanks go to Steve for sharing this with us and agreeing to the company to use it as a
bulletin topic. It’s great to see that the training received as part of his work is being used
away from the day job to keep his family and others safe. Enclosed is the Hazard/Near
Miss report.