Author Archives: GovWorldMag

Company fined after scaffold collapse

A Dorset based company has been fined after a scaffold collapsed at an industrial unit in Wallisdown, Poole.

Poole Magistrates’ Court heard how Swanage and Dorset Scaffolding and Roofing Limited (SDSRL) had been contracted to erect scaffolding at the industrial unit in Alder Hills Business Park, Wallisdown, Poole to provide edge protection for work to be carried out on the roof.

The scaffolding collapsed on 14 September 2015 narrowly avoiding an office worker as they exited the building but resulting in serious damage to parked cars.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found, the company failed to ensure the scaffolding provided was suitably designed and installed to prevent collapse during use. The company failed to ensure the scaffolding was suitably attached to the building to withstand foreseeable wind loads.

Swanage and Dorset Scaffolding and Roofing Limited of Romany Centre Business Park, Wareham Road, Poole pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 19 (2) of the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015.

The company has been fined £27,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4051

Speaking after the hearing HSE Principal Inspector Helena Tinton said: “The company failed to ensure the scaffolding was properly secured to the building to avoid it putting workers and members of the public at risk of it collapsing in high winds.

“It is very lucky nobody was injured as result of this incident. All duty holders have the responsibility to ensure all scaffolding work is properly designed and installed by competent workers.”

Notes to Editors:

  1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice, promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice, and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk[1]
  2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/ [2
  3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk

Journalists should approach HSE press office with any queries on regional press releases.

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HSE

Diane Abbott response to Amber Rudd’s comments on stop and search

Diane Abbott MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, responding to the comments from the Home Secretary on increased use of stop and search, said: 

“Labour supports evidence-based stop and search, not a return to the bad old days of discriminatory stops that focus on particular communities.

“Police officers should be confident in doing their job, but the Tories have overseen a huge cut in police numbers. Simply granting police additional powers won’t make up for that shortfall. Labour in government will recruit 10,000 extra police officers to help tackle violent crime and keep the public and our communities safe.

“The Government should stop trying to con the public by attempting to cover up their failure to tackle rising violent crime – when the crime stats were released they insisted crime was falling, but now want to increase stop and search.“

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Labour •