Construction firm fined over unsafe scaffolding
November 27th 17:19 Health and Safety
An £8,000 fine has been issued to a Kent-based scaffolding firm after it was found to have breached health and safety regulations.
The penalty, which may act as a warning to facilities management firms operating in the construction sector, was levied against Bracknell Roofing of Suffolk Way in Sevenoaks.
Steve Woods, an inspector from the Heath and Safety Executive, saw employees of the firm working on a structure that had no edge protection and inadequate boarding.
He noted that falling while working at height is "the most common kind of workplace fatality", adding that the employees who were using the scaffolding were "at risk of serious injury".
A company manager who visited the site neglected to prevent personnel from using the tower and Mr Woods added that the work "should have been stopped" by the supervisor.
MWS Scaffolding Services was recently fined £5,000 at the City of London Magistrates Court after being prosecuted by the HSE for failing to protect a worker who fell through a roof while using scaffolding.
