Author: Rhona

When I talk to people about archaeology and delivering archaeological works it’s not traditionally perceived as a high-risk profession. Unless of course your point of reference is Indiana Jones. Yet delivering complex archaeological works on major infrastructure projects brings with it a myriad of challenges and potential risks, including plant and pedestrian interfaces, deep excavations, Musculo-skeletal disorders and work at height, to name a few. Recent works by Costain-Skanska JV on the Enabling Works contract in Area South for HS2 Ltd triggered massive archaeological investigations in Central London with the excavation of a large post medieval burial ground containing an estimated 60,000 burials.

A requirement for the works was the complete encapsulation of the burial ground to ensure that the archaeological excavation could be carried out safely and given all due care, dignity and respect to those buried within the cemetery. Costain-Skanska JV worked with Palmers Scaffolding Group and RDG Engineering to design and deliver a complex system scaffold structure which covered the 11,000m² area and incorporated a suspended inspection and maintenance gantry and high level walkways with integrated edge protection to provide access to the complex lighting and power supply which was installed at roof level to limit cable strikes during the excavation phase. The whole structure was erected without the use of a crane, but with the use of a birdcage scaffold and bespoke working platform which allowed the roof trusses to be assembled in a safe elevated position and winched into place on parallel spine beams where they where then pulled into place using a tirfor and guide tower at ground level. Using this methodology, the twin roofs were erected with minimal work at height and improved manual handling procedures.

Tom Pawson, Costain Groups Scaffolding Designated Individual said “Falls from height often cause life changing injuries and fatalities.  The impact is felt not just to those that fall but also their families, friends, and colleagues. At Costain we place the utmost importance on developing innovative solutions to remove the need for people to work at height.  Where the requirement to work at height cannot be eliminated, we always seek to develop solutions that can be largely implemented at ground level and reduce, as far as is reasonably practicable, the requirement for anybody to be working at height.”

A key mandate set out by HS2 is to establish a programme of work which drives innovation and leaves a lasting legacy across multiple disciplines and specialisms. The work in St James’s Gardens has set new standards in how working at height can be eliminated through strategic and innovative design from the outset.

A recent prosecution at Glasgow Sheriff Court has highlighted both the human and financial consequences when work at height is not properly planned, designed and managed.
 
The court heard that on 2 September 2016, an employee of JR Scaffold Services Ltd, who was erecting a tower scaffold to carry out roof repairs, fell 8 metres after the cantilever section on which he was standing collapsed. According to reports, it left him hospitalised for two weeks, with severe injuries including a collapsed lung, ruptured spleen and multiple rib and shoulder fractures. It was five months before he could return to work and he will be on daily antibiotics for the rest of his life.
 
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the company had correctly carried out a risk assessment and method statement before starting work. However, the tower was erected in the wrong place. Rather than dismantle and reassemble in the right place, it was decided that a cantilever section should be added, despite this not being included in the design.
 
The HSE identified two major errors in what followed. Firstly, there were insufficient anchor ties available on site, so the cantilever was supported by splicing the frame of the scaffold. Secondly, no ballast/counterweight was used, which meant the top section of the tower was unable to support the weight of the cantilever.
 
When the employee stood on the cantilever section to fit toe boards, the top section of the scaffold and cantilever section collapsed.
 
The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £5,000, reduced from £10,000 due to the current pandemic.

In response to this prosecution, PASMA, the not-for-profit lead industry body dedicated to promoting the safe use of towers, is urging all those responsible for managing the use of mobile towers and prefabricated tower scaffolds, to take all necessary measures to protect employees’ safety.
 
Specifically, this case highlights the consequences of making unplanned modifications to scaffold towers, which undoubtedly compromises the stability of the tower and increases the risk of incident.
 
When assembling a standard configuration tower, including mobile access and cantilever towers, follow the instruction manual exactly.
 
If you require a more complex aluminium structure to be specially designed for your project, it should be built by a PASMA Hire & Assembly member. Their PASMA membership demonstrates their commitment to meeting the highest standards in equipment, design and training. They are audited by PASMA and employ access tower specialists who have successfully completed an intensive training course. PASMA recommends that you use only these companies for assembly, modification or dismantling of non-standard towers.
 
PASMA encourages every company involved in the hire and assembly of tower scaffolds to adopt its safety standards and become a member. The company involved in this case has not yet done so.
 
Commenting on the accident, the Chair of PASMA’s Hire and Assembly Committee and owner of STS Access Ltd, Pete Harley said, “It is distressing to hear of another fall from height that could easily have been prevented. The incorrect positioning of the tower set off a chain of errors resulting in a serious injury. Alterations can be made to a designed structure only after consulting with the engineer and the correct equipment must always be used. This incident clearly highlights the need for planning by a competent person, as required by the Work at Height Regulations.”
 
Gillian Rutter, PASMA’s immediate Past Chairman and Director of Hire Access Ltd added, “Cantilever towers are a proven safe method of working but only when they are correctly designed and built. There is a PASMA Towers with Cantilevers training course that gives already experienced mobile access tower users the additional skills required to build these more complex tower scaffolds. However, even this training does not qualify a user to design a cantilever tower. Without question, that is the role of a qualified designer whose design plan must be followed on site without changes.”
 
Falls from height are the leading cause of workplace fatalities and cause thousands of injuries each year, many with life-changing consequences for the victim and their families. PASMA urges anyone affected by a fall from height to contact the No Falls Foundation, the only charity dedicated to preventing falls from height and helping people affected by the consequences of a fall.

AS THE lockdown eases and people begin returning to work, the No Falls Foundation is urging workers to ‘Be Safe, Don’t Fall, Stay Alive!’

Dedicated to preventing falls from height and helping people affected by the life-changing consequences of a fall, the charity is keen to ensure that height safety remains a priority despite the understandable pressures to kick-start the economy. 

Comments chair of the trustees, Peter Bennett OBE: “Falls from height are the single biggest cause of workplace deaths and one of the main causes of major injuries. It’s therefore imperative that safety is not compromised for the sake of productivity.”

“We have witnessed unprecedented collaboration and mobilisation of all the stakeholders in industry – government, regulators, employers, trade associations, trade unions and employees – to fundamentally change  behaviours to try and ensure that COVID-19 does not wreak devastation in the workplace.”
   
“Moving forward, we need to harness and build upon that collaboration and sense of common cause, and apply it to that commonplace, often unnoticed danger – working at height.”

The Foundation, which has three objectives – raising awareness of the risks associated with working at height, researching the causes of falls and providing advice and support to those affected by a fall – is also asking anyone who has suffered a fall and experienced its consequences to get in touch. 

Explains charity manager, Hannah Williams: “We’re looking for people to share their personal stories in a series of case studies on the Foundation’s website – anonymously if necessary – for the benefit of others. If anyone would like to contribute to the work of the charity and help save lives by stopping falls, we would be delighted to hear from them.”

The charity is also about to publish the first issue of Saving Lives, an occasional e-newsletter for anyone involved – directly or indirectly – in the work at height sector. To sign up visit nofallsfoundation.org.

Finally, the Annual Charity Ball – postponed for this year because of the pandemic – will now take place on Saturday, 30 October 2021 at the Coombe Abbey Hotel, Warwickshire. 

As we are all aware, unprecedented measures are being implemented across the globe to prevent the further outbreak and spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). This makes it a very challenging time all round for businesses and individuals as we do everything within our power to ensure the health and safety of our staff, our customers and the wider community.

There is a wide range of guidance available for businesses and individuals to review and keep up to speed as the situation develops.

We have collated, what we believe, are the most relevant links to advice and resources in respect of the Coronavirus pandemic. You can view them at www.accessindustryforum.org.uk/covid19/

Avoidable accidents are still occurring in the workplace as a result of companies failing to properly plan and ensure that appropriate equipment is being used when working at height – as highlighted by a recent prosecution at Leeds Magistrates’ Court.

Two companies have been prosecuted following an incident during which a worker suffered life changing injuries after falling 9.7m through a roof light whilst working as a sheet cladder at a factory in West Yorkshire. His injuries resulted in surgical operations to insert six pins into his pelvis, together with two further pins at the top of his femur and two at the bottom

The principal contractor and cladding installer pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and were fined £145,000 with £5,046.30 costs and £165,000 with £5114.49 costs respectively.

Following the hearing HSE Inspector Paul Thompson commented “Work at height, such as roof work, is a high-risk activity that accounts for a high proportion of workplace serious injuries and fatalities each year. This was a wholly avoidable incident, caused by the failure of the principal contractor to manage and monitor the works to ensure the correct work equipment was being used. The risk was further amplified by the cladding company’s failure to ensure suitable measures were in place to prevent persons falling a distance liable to cause personal injury.”  

For the No Falls Foundation, Hannah Williams commented “This incident emphasises the need for companies to ensure that working at height is properly planned, supervised and carried out by a competent person. This fall could have been totally avoided had this been the case.”

Falls from height are still the leading cause of death in the workplace and result in an additional estimated 118 injuries every day.

The No Falls Foundation is the UK’s first and only charity devoted exclusively to the working at height sector. It is dedicated to preventing falls from height and helping people effected by the life-changing consequences of a fall. It has three main objectives: Preventing falls; researching the causes of falls and providing support.