We were saddened to learn about the injuries sustained by two workers who fell from an incorrectly assembled tower scaffold while installing signage at a retail premises in Prestwich. They both suffered fractures to their legs and ankles. The accident, which happened in November 2018, was the subject of a recent prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) at Manchester Magistrates’ Court. The investigation found that the person who erected the tower had not been properly trained. There were missing guardrails and no outriggers in place. The tower moved away from the building and the employees fell two metres.

Consequences

Rooffabs Direct Limited and its sole director, Paul McMahon, both pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 which means they did not ‘ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all [their] employees.’ They also both pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Regulations 2013 for failing to report the incident. The company was fined £20,000. The director was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service, pay compensation orders of £500 each for the two injured people and pay costs of £1,000.