15.04.2006

Milton Keynes fatality

The scaffold collapse in Milton Keynes, central England, earlier this week has claimed its fist life; one of the three injured men has died today.

The Health and Safety Executive is still investigating the incident, with the focus now directed on the scaffolding, a large tube and coupler installation supplied by North Notts Scaffolding Ltd of Mansfield.

The entire scaffold on the width of the building, 90 degrees on to the main scaffold that covered the length of the building, came away from the wall in the high winds. The last bay of the long scaffold then collapsed, having lost its support at one end.

The main questions seem to be revolving around the level of anchoring to the façade. Questions have also been raised about the quality of the façade itself.

North Notts Scaffolding has been put on the defensive with television reports stating that “The HSE had warned it before about safety shortcuts”. This refers to an HSE prohibition order, issued in 2002 for a defective lanyard being used by one of its scaffolders on a small project.

See Milton Keynes scaffold collapse