High winds have led to the collapse of two large sections of scaffolding in London.
What happened?
Storm Gareth back in March, led to the collapse of two large sections of scaffolding which were attached to a block of flats opposite the Royal Free Hospital in London. A further section collapsed onto several parked cars a few days later.
Nobody was injured during the incidents, but they acted as a reminder of worker and public safety surrounding scaffolding in inclement weather.
What does the law say?
The HSE states that it is a ‘requirement of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 that unless a scaffold is assembled to a generally recognised standard configuration, the scaffold should be designed by bespoke calculation, by a competent person, to ensure it will have adequate strength, rigidity and stability while it is erected, used and dismantled.’
A Scaffold Checklist, produced by HSE, provides information on what scaffold users and contractors are required to do from the start of the planning process, through design, installation to inspection and supervision.
It states that ‘it is the scaffold users/hirers responsibility to ensure that all scaffolding has been inspected following any circumstances liable to jeopardise the safety of the installation, e.g. high winds.’
The HSE goes on to say that ‘All scaffolding inspections should be carried out by a competent person whose combination of knowledge, health-and-safety-training and experience is appropriate for the type and complexity of the scaffold,’
Summary
It is a requirement of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 that unless a scaffold is assembled to a generally recognised standard configuration, e.g. NASC Technical Guidance TG20 for tube and fitting scaffolds or similar guidance from manufacturers of system scaffolds, the scaffold should be designed by bespoke calculation, by a competent person, to ensure it will have adequate strength, rigidity and stability while it is erected, used and dismantled.
At the start of the planning process, the user should supply relevant information to the scaffold contractor to ensure an accurate and proper design process is followed.
Prior to installation, the scaffold contractor or scaffold designer can then provide relevant information about the scaffold.