A construction firm must pay £63,000 after being spotted using a makeshift platform for a mobile crane and failing to use edge protection on a scaffold platform.
On 15 October 2019, a routine inspection in by a Health and Safety Executive inspector in Malvern, Worcestershire, found a mobile crane in an unsafe position on the roadside (pictured above).
The crane was being operated on a slope, and there was not a plan for the lifting operation or a competent lift supervisor, putting workers and members of the public at risk.
‘”Though there were no incidents involved in the investigation, there was the potential for serious injuries or fatalities in two different areas of work”
The investigation revealed that workers had also installed a temporary platform on scaffolding without any additional edge protection, as required by the regulations, to prevent a fall from height.
Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court was told a Prohibition Notice (PN) was served immediately in response to the work at height breach and a Notification of Contravention and Improvement Notices (IN) were served in relation to planning for work at height and planning for lifting operations.
A temporary platform on the scaffolding had no additional edge protection
Although there were no incidents involved in the investigation, there was the potential for serious injuries or fatalities in two different areas of work being undertaken at the time of the inspection, explained HSE inspector Chris Gregory.
J F Wright Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations and regulation 8(1) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations. The company was fined £64,000 and ordered to pay £4926 in costs.