{"id":516115,"date":"2025-03-10T11:19:25","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T11:19:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/?p=516115"},"modified":"2025-03-10T12:05:14","modified_gmt":"2025-03-10T12:05:14","slug":"scaffolding-company-fined-after-investigation-prompted-by-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/health-and-safety\/scaffolding-company-fined-after-investigation-prompted-by-death-10-03-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Scaffolding company fined after investigation prompted by death"},"content":{"rendered":"

A court has fined a scaffolding specialist for safety failings on a site where a worker sustained injuries that led to his death.<\/p>\n

A.I.M Access Solutions was ordered to pay a \u00a330,800 penalty and \u00a35,040.75 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching health and safety laws, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said in a statement on Friday (7 March).<\/p>\n

The watchdog said it had identified \u201cserious issues\u201d with the construction of a scaffold on Rice Hey Road on Merseyside.<\/p>\n

The HSE added that assembly instructions had not been followed while the scaffold tower was being built.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo ladder was used access the scaffold,\u201d it said. \u201cInstead, workers climbed the rungs of the scaffold itself.\u201d<\/p>\n

The HSE said its investigation was launched after it was notified of the death of A.I.M Access Solutions employee Robert Duffy.<\/p>\n

The 45-year-old passed away in hospital on 23 May 2021, three days after sustaining serious injuries while working at the site on Rice Hey Road.<\/p>\n

However, the watchdog said the prosecution of A.I.M Access Solutions, based at Knowsley Industrial Park, Kirkby, was \u201cnot brought on the grounds that the incident was causative of Mr Duffy\u2019s death\u201d.<\/p>\n

HSE inspector Sam Eves said: \u201cA.I.M Access Solutions did not ensure the tower scaffold was constructed correctly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe company failed to provide a safe way to get to and from the work platform, for example using an appropriately designed internal ladder.<\/p>\n

\u201cCompanies should follow HSE guidance to ensure they effectively plan, manage and monitor similar construction work and reduce the risks to their employees.\u201d<\/p>\n

A.I.M Access Solutions admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined at Wirral Magistrates\u2019 Court on 27 February 2025.<\/p>\n

The company and the HSE have been contacted for comment.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany people\u201d are injured each year when they fall from scaffolding towers or they overturn, the HSE said in its 7 March statement. Common causes include defects in assembly and proper process not being followed when erecting and dismantling towers, it added.<\/p>\n

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HSE data for the year to 31 March 2024<\/a> showed that a fall from height was the most common cause of workplace fatalities, accounting for 50 out of 138 deaths.<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A court has fined a scaffolding specialist for safety failings on a site where a worker sustained injuries that led to his death. A.I.M Access Solutions was ordered to pay a \u00a330,800 penalty and \u00a35,040.75 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching health and safety laws, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said in a …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":87938,"featured_media":463162,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[581,578],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n