A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) blitz on construction sites in the Scottish borders has highlighted the poorly built defective scaffolding which did not meet the standard required by law.
A representative from the Scottish Borders Council Safety Department accompanied HSE Inspectors when they visited 24 sites. It was deemed necessary to issue 3 Prohibition Notices for poorly constructed scaffolding. Work had to be stopped on a further 5 sites in order to remedy defects.
Typical hazards found during the blitz were as follows:
- Scaffolding was being overloaded on boards creating the potential risk of collapse.
- Platforms were incomplete and had missing guard rails.
Commenting on the blitz, an HSE Inspector from the Construction Division said:
"Poorly constructed scaffolding remains a very real issue in the Borders and it is disappointing that those where enforcement action was taken or work stopped had not taken the opportunity to attend the free information event at the end of September.
"Work at Height remains the biggest cause of fatal or other serious injuries in the Construction industry.
"Small builders and those involved in self-build plots are particularly prone to using poorly erected and maintained scaffolding.
"Scaffolding should only be erected and altered by someone who has had appropriate training."
Further information on scaffolding can be accessed from the HSE webpage by clicking the following:
HSE Scaffolding Information Sheet
There is also an HSE webpage providing information on falls from height, which can be accessed by clicking the following:
Article by Alexandra Johnston
