Statement 25 April 2006

HSE statement following major scaffolding collapse

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

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.

Notes to editors

• Information on managing work at height
• Information about the work of HSE’s Construction Division

Injuries to workers involving scaffolding* as reported to all enforcing authorities (see request supplement) 2001/02 - 2004/05p

Kind	Year				Total
	2001/02	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05p
Contact with moving machinery	1	-	-	-	1
Hit by moving, falling object	99	83	105	106	393
Hit by moving vehicle	1	-	-	-	1
Hit something fixed or stationary	101	80	103	75	359
Handling	88	79	108	135	410
Slip or trip	169	137	134	169	609
Falls from height of which:-	477	504	616	509	2,106
High fall	199	190	241	193	823
Low fall	226	245	286	264	1,021
Fall - height not known	52	69	89	52	262
Collapse	11	7	8	1	27
Contact with harmful substance	1	-	-	-	1
Electricity	2	-	4	1	7
Other kind of accident	13	16	25	29	83
Not known	-	1	1	-	2
Total	963	907	1,104	1,025	3,999

*As defined by Agent codes '01.13 Fixed Scaffolding inc. general access' & '01.14 Mobile Scaffolding inc. tower and trestle'.

Press enquiries

Nicky Harmson 020 7717 6903
Out of hours 020 7928 8382

Public enquiries

HSE's InfoLine 0845 3450055
Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG