25.04.2006

HSE warns after Milton Keynes Scaffold Collapse

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a safety alert to the construction industry following the major scaffolding collapse in central Milton Keynes, UK, on Tuesday 11 April 2006.

After a spate of theories as to why the scaffold collapsed, the one that the HSE is now unofficially focussing on is that the scaffold may have been overloaded.

The warning aims to alert those working on similar projects to the importance of their arrangements to provide and maintain stable scaffolds. HSE recommends that those arrangements are reviewed regularly and that reviews take account of factors which include, but are not limited to:

-Scaffolding design implementation;
-Arrangements for securing scaffolding to structures;
-Intended and actual loadings on scaffolds, including the impact of wind;
-The risk of direct impact by construction plant or vehicles;
-The frequency and thoroughness of scaffold inspection arrangements;
-Systems in place for the handover of new or adapted scaffolds;
-The training and competence of scaffold erectors;
-The adequacy of the scaffold foundations; and
-The prevention of unauthorised modifications.

HSE inspectors are now leading a thorough investigation into this catastrophic incident which injured three workmen. One of the men, Mr John Robinson, aged 49, has subsequently died in hospital.

The investigation will seek to determine the causes of the incident and any lessons to be learnt. A number of witnesses have been interviewed and a detailed examination of the incident scene will commence shortly. The construction site remains closed but businesses in the area are now open as usual.