Company fined after scaffolding collapse (1 Viewer)

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A Greater Manchester company has been fined after a scaffolding collapse at a construction site in the region, highlighting the importance of using construction signs.

The company, which is based in Britannia Road in Sale, was ordered to pay £7,000 towards the cost of the prosecution in addition to a £24,000 fine at Trafford Magistrates Court, relating to the January 2009 accident.

It happened when the scaffolding, which measured over 40 metres in width and was nearly six metres high, was forced over by high winds and collapsed onto a neighbouring residential street, damaging several parked cars, after the firm failed to tie the scaffolding to the building.

Neil Martin, an inspector for the Health and Safety Executive, commented: "People living near the site could easily have been badly injured or even killed when the scaffolding collapsed. Several cars parked on the street were crushed but luckily no one was in them at the time."

Recently, property developer HQ Leisure, of Park Drive, Bradford, was fined £10,000 for numerous safety oversights at a site, illustrating the importance of using construction signs.

Source: Safety Sign Supplies
 
How do these jobs get signed off or handed over,no scaff of any quality would leave a job that size untied.:eek:
 
How do these jobs get signed off or handed over,no scaff of any quality would leave a job that size untied.:eek:

Its just shocking mate....but a lot of the time the full picture isnt in view.

A Company I previously worked for put a Pavement Gantry (Luckily nothing built off the top of it at that stage) up in Leeds for a major construction firm, some bright spark (Not Scaffolders obviously) decided to take the ties out and in the middle of the night (Isnt that always the way!!) it promplty peeled away from the building, the only thing that stopped it collapsing into the road where a couple of bus shelters!! Well of course the brown stuff hits the fan and all fingers are pointed at us, that is until a little pile of fittings and butts are found behind each column it was tied to and the of course the protuding tie tubes in the Gantry are evident!! Not to mention the fact that the Gantry had been handed over to the client!! The Construction company were fined a 5 figure sum and we were in the clear...But its there for all to see...the first people they look at is us...when 9 times out of 10 its them!!
 
Its just shocking mate....but a lot of the time the full picture isnt in view.

A Company I previously worked for put a Pavement Gantry (Luckily nothing built off the top of it at that stage) up in Leeds for a major construction firm, some bright spark (Not Scaffolders obviously) decided to take the ties out and in the middle of the night (Isnt that always the way!!) it promplty peeled away from the building, the only thing that stopped it collapsing into the road where a couple of bus shelters!! Well of course the brown stuff hits the fan and all fingers are pointed at us, that is until a little pile of fittings and butts are found behind each column it was tied to and the of course the protuding tie tubes in the Gantry are evident!! Not to mention the fact that the Gantry had been handed over to the client!! The Construction company were fined a 5 figure sum and we were in the clear...But its there for all to see...the first people they look at is us...when 9 times out of 10 its them!!

PW
For this very reason we now (on most jobs) attach a tie tag to the tie and take a photo, sounds like a lot of hassle but it don't take long, a far cry from the nip tie in the window reveals or a lip tie over the parapet :D
 
Scaff

I like the idea of Tag and Photo Recoring/evidence, as you say with the age of digital cameras recording would not take long---just a though but is there Case for using triangular nuts to secure Ties ???, they would not be readily removed with a shifter ;)
 
that would be a superb idea, or some sort of tamper proof nut, anything out there?:)
 
Orac

To my knowledge there is nothing available, however, there is nothing stopping you from developing the security/Guarding Provision, this would be a USP for your Scaffold Inspection Services. The Tagging and Guarding of Tie Pattern node points would go some way in mitigating against Unauthorized removal. It need noy be a Triangle shaped Bolt, it could be a shape Designed so as it could only be accessed by the Key, however, a triangular shape is the one that a shifter would have the most problem with and be most economical to produce...your thoughts ???
 
Scaff

I like the idea of Tag and Photo Recoring/evidence, as you say with the age of digital cameras recording would not take long---just a though but is there Case for using triangular nuts to secure Ties ???, they would not be readily removed with a shifter ;)

Garry/Orac
I've used these (follow link) it will not stop you removing the tie but it's a very good tamper indicator.
CLIK-ON - safeguarding the integrity of scaffolding - New Scaffolding Products and Services from TONE Hire and Sales
 
Scaff

MMMmmm ye, good tamper indicator, would be a good anti-vibration provision---gives a degree of security, casing looks brital and could be a non-retrievable component, i.e. breakages and lost, however, room for improvement---it would not take much to replace Tri Bolts on Fittings and would have a long life low cost ???
 
Scaff

MMMmmm ye, good tamper indicator, would be a good anti-vibration provision---gives a degree of security, casing looks brital and could be a non-retrievable component, i.e. breakages and lost, however, room for improvement---it would not take much to replace Tri Bolts on Fittings and would have a long life low cost ???

Garry
it is non retrievable, the nut section has to be snapped off by turning it with your spanner to a certain torque ;) then the remainder is pulled off ripping your finger nails off in the process.
Love the idea of your triangular security nut, anyone do this?

Anyone remember Mr trebus trying to take the scaffold down the council erected at the front of his house? they ended up spot welding all the fittings to stop him tampering with it :eek:
 
Scaff

LOLooo, aye chipped finger nails eh lolooooooo, on a more serious note, It is quite achievable to develop a Tri Bolt, Im sure H&S, IOSH and Clients would go for it...well worth consideration.

SSoW ans Method Statement:

Apply Tie Tubes to Torque Value ;)
Tag Tie Pattern Node Point
Photo Record and inspect as Statutory requirement.

A good addendum to the Loss Prevention Strategy. ???
 
Garry
it is non retrievable, the nut section has to be snapped off by turning it with your spanner to a certain torque ;) then the remainder is pulled off ripping your finger nails off in the process.
Love the idea of your triangular security nut, anyone do this?

Anyone remember Mr trebus trying to take the scaffold down the council erected at the front of his house? they ended up spot welding all the fittings to stop him tampering with it :eek:

Maybe easier to check out the big Ben Scafflock - it goes straight onto any 7/16 fitting - no welding or special nuts needed here!
We use them a lot to stop our lamps being pinched on the street. They're not cheap but they have saved us a lotta dosh so far.
 
Gordy

Thanks for that---I,ll check it out---Iv opened a Post on the Horizan Scanning Group regarding Unautherized Removal of Tube and Fitting Ties.
 
gordy

Just cilck on " User CP " at the extream left hand side, scroll down to Social Groups and click on " Horizan Scanning and Research and Development Group "

Gar...
 
I also think there a strong need for tamper proof ties - more so considering 'envirowrap' (sp?) is becoming popular - at least using monarflex sheeting or similar we have the 'fail safe' toggle fixings under adverse wind conditions.
As with anything, there will be a way round even tamper proof ties though - I think there should be more emphasis on 'other trades' to leave well alone, maybe a 'red card' system for anyone caught tampering with scaffold ties - the construction industry as a whole is still complacent to this activity IMO
 
JonEng

There is certainly a need to Police and Monitor Unauthorized Removal of Scaffold Components, let us not forget that this practice as a Breach of Statutory Law, there is should be a more robust regime of sanctions imposed on the perpetrator (s). Perhaps, the Principal Contractor should stipulate the Breach in their Initial Induction Training and then after a campaign of propaganda posters and Signage proclaiming a Zero Tolerance of the practice. Furthermore, a more robust Auditing Strategy by the Safety Officers and in particular the nominated Scaffold Inspector may prove a prudent measure.

In other words---what is the Safety Officers and Scaffold Inspectors being payed for ???they are quick enough pullin up the Scaffs for not wearing hard hats, hooked on---nae safety glasses---and all the time they pass by the high Risk Breaches---cant they see the big issues ???.
 
JonEng

There is certainly a need to Police and Monitor Unauthorized Removal of Scaffold Components, let us not forget that this practice as a Breach of Statutory Law, there is should be a more robust regime of sanctions imposed on the perpetrator (s). Perhaps, the Principal Contractor should stipulate the Breach in their Initial Induction Training and then after a campaign of propaganda posters and Signage proclaiming a Zero Tolerance of the practice. Furthermore, a more robust Auditing Strategy by the Safety Officers and in particular the nominated Scaffold Inspector may prove a prudent measure.QUOTE]

Garry
Recently had a 60m x 20m high monaflexed job and the metsec guys removed 60m of ties on a lift to insert metsec rather than come to us to move said ties, I spotted it on my walk around and quite rightly blew a gasget reported to the main contractor who were very supportive. They erected signs over the whole job stating "anyone tampering with the scaffold will be red carded and removed from site" introduced it into thier site induction, and made every contractor do a toolbox talk. Well done!! Galliford Try for this reactive response. :D and yes they have red carded guys for said offense.
 
Top marks for Gallifords. We need more support from the main contractors to prevent unauthorized modifications, and this looks like the kind of response we need.
 
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