Three-Week Initiative To Assess Scaffolding Safety

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is involved in a three-week campaign of inspections around West Midlands, Worcestershire and Warwickshire which will focus on scaffolding and working at height in general.

Inspectors closely examining whether work at height is properly planned to ensure such projects are carried out safely, after research revealed three people were killed and 250 others injured in work accidents involving fixed and mobile scaffolds in the regions between 2006 and 2011.

It is hoped that the campaign will help to raise awareness of health and safety in such work, as well as reduce the number of workplace deaths and injuries.

Louise Scott, a specialist workplace injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell’s Birmingham office, represents victims left seriously injured in accidents at work including falls from height.

Commenting on this plans, she said: “Falls from height are one of the biggest causes of workplace deaths and fatalities, and the HSE is right to react in this manner as the figures which have been revealed are simply unacceptable.

“It is clear from such research that many employers are still failing to recognise the importance of properly assessing the risks of such projects and how problems could have significant consequences for workers.

“We welcome this new initiative and hope it will play a key role in ensuring that the number of people hurt or killed in such incidents is significantly reduced in the future.”