A company has been fined £160,000 after safety failures caused the scaffolding it was dismantling to turn into a “giant sail” that collapsed into a Maidenhead street.
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 the 30 April 2018. It was found that the underlying cause of the scaffold collapse was a lack of training and adequate instruction.
The worker carrying out the dismantling of the scaffold and removal of the scaffold ties was not adequately trained. Subsequent high winds acting upon the monoflex sheeting on the day of the collapse caused the scaffold to act as a “giant sail” and topple over into the street.
Formula Scaffolding (London) Limited of Church Lane, Chessington was found guilty in its absence to breaching section 3(1) of Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and has been fined £160,000 and ordered to pay costs of £11,533.36
HSE inspector John Caboche said: “This was a very serious incident and it is fortunate nobody was injured as a result of it.
“Those in control of work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working, ensure that their workforce is adequately trained and provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers in the safe system of working.”
