Court Summary - at a glance
Date of offence:
Between 30 April 2017 and 19 May 2017
Plea:
Guilty
Decision:
Convicted
Final decision date:
Fine imposed:
$60,000.00
Safety lessons learned:
- Ensure the structural integrity of the scaffold; and
- Implement an effective system to adequately monitor its workers’ inspections, alterations and repairs of the scaffold.
Defendant name:
Tower Scaffolding Group Ltd
Industry:
Building and construction
Date of offence:
Between 30 April 2017 and 19 May 2017
Facts in brief:
On 18 May 2017, a 26m long and 8.5m high scaffold the Defendant had installed came away from an apartment building under construction and fell against the side hoarding, adjacent tree, and Council street lighting. No one was working on or adjacent to the scaffolding at the time it collapsed.
WorkSafe’s investigation established that the scaffold was deficient in the following material ways:
(a) The bracing was inadequate and did not comply with the manufacturer’s instructions or the Good Practice Guidelines: Scaffolding in New Zealand;
(b) The number of ties used was inadequate to stabilise the structure given its size, nature and the construction of the scaffold;
(c) The ties were applied in locations that would not afford optimum stability of the scaffold;
(d) The ties were not of the recommended configuration; and
(e) Additional ties and bracing should have been installed to take account of the additional dead lead created by the screening on the scaffold.
WorkSafe’s investigation established that the scaffold was deficient in the following material ways:
(a) The bracing was inadequate and did not comply with the manufacturer’s instructions or the Good Practice Guidelines: Scaffolding in New Zealand;
(b) The number of ties used was inadequate to stabilise the structure given its size, nature and the construction of the scaffold;
(c) The ties were applied in locations that would not afford optimum stability of the scaffold;
(d) The ties were not of the recommended configuration; and
(e) Additional ties and bracing should have been installed to take account of the additional dead lead created by the screening on the scaffold.
Offence section:
Sections 48(1) and 2(c), and 36(2) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
Date(s) charged:
Court:
Auckland - District Court
Plea:
Guilty
Final decision date:
Decision:
Convicted
Fine imposed:
$60,000.00
Maximum fine available:
$1.5 million
Reparation:
N/A
Related Documents:
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