Three construction companies working on the construction of residential apartments in Essex have been sentenced after the collapse of a huge scaffold in July.
Workers narrowly escaped injury when the scaffolding plunged into the River Brain during work on the former Riverside Centre in Braintree.
The scaffold, which was 40 metres in length and five lifts high, collapsed with workers jumping through window openings to avoid falling with it.
Construction - Design and Management (CDM) co-ordinator Haze and Safety Limited, of Meadowside, Braintree, Parkland Developments Ltd, of Witham Road, Black Notley, and SC Cousins Scaffolding Ltd, of Church St, Billericay were prosecuted at Chelmsford Magistrates Court after being found guilty of breaches by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
During the hearing, the court heard that the CDM co-ordinator had failed to provide suitable and sufficient advice to Parkland Developments Ltd to ensure that arrangements were being implemented on site, while Parkland Developments failed to implement the construction phase plan, or ensure it had managed or monitored the scaffolding works.
The scaffolding contractor, SCS Cousins Scaffolding Ltd, was found to have failed to plan the work or design the scaffold along with failing to send trained workers to the site.
Adam Hills, HSE inspector, said the collapse was entirely preventable and it was only by chance that multiple fatalities did not occur.
“It beggars belief that following the collapse, no lessons were learnt and untrained people were still allowed to adapt the scaffold,” said Adam.
“This case highlights the importance of ensuring those who undertake construction work have the relevant skills, knowledge, training and experience to do so.”
Parkland Developments Ltd was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,893.
SC Cousins Scaffolding Ltd was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,981.
And Haze and Safety Ltd was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,981.
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