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Painter’s injuries caused by scaffold ladder access failings

17 Mar 14 A scaffolding firm has been fined after a painter and decorator was injured when he fell through an unprotected ladder opening on scaffolding at a block of flats in Hemel Hempstead.

David Currie, 48, a self-employed decorator from Lisson Grove, London, suffered a fractured arm and dislocated shoulder from the fall at Evans Wharf, Aspley Lock, on 6 November 2012.

The incident was investigated by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), which prosecuted Beacon Scaffolding at Watford Magistrates’ Court. The court heard that the firm, based in Primrose Hill, north London, had been sub-contracted to erect scaffolding around a four-storey block of flats to allow decorators to repaint windows and woodwork.

While erecting the scaffolding, Beacon’s workers were asked by painting and maintenance subcontractors to significantly increase the height of the first tier of scaffolding. This alteration required a new layout design. However, the scaffolders continued to erect the scaffolding before these designs had been received.

Mr Currie was working on the third level of the scaffolding when he lost his footing and stumbled through an unprotected ladder opening. His outstretched arm fell between ladder rungs and the momentum of his fall caused him to fall to the second level below, dislocating his shoulder and fracturing his arm.

The HSE found that there were no measures, such as protected ladder traps or guardrails, to prevent a fall from one level to another, and that access ladders between each level were too short and did not provide suitable handholds.

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Beacon Scaffolding Ltd, of Gloucester Avenue, London, was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £1,737 costs after pleading guilty to a single breach of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007.

HSE inspector Rauf Ahmed said after the hearing:  “This incident was entirely preventable. This case highlights the importance of scaffolding companies arranging ladder access openings between scaffold levels in such a way to prevent falls, and provide ladders of a sufficient length to offer suitable handholds above landing places.

“There are a number of well-known ways of arranging safe ladder access to prevent falls like this, and our investigation found no evidence of these being in use at the scene of the incident. In addition, if there are significant design changes to a scaffold, it is important the new designs are followed.

“Falls from height continue to be the largest cause of fatalities and serious injury.”

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