Guardrail recommendations have once again been issued by the Health & Safety Executive to firms in the north-west and south-west alike, and for both internal and external work.
In the north-west, the HSE has stressed the need for edge protection even on temporary structures, after a Merseyside worker fell from a scaffold tower that was more than two metres tall.
HSE inspectors found that the mobile tower had not had its brakes applied; nor was it equipped with guard rails, boards or any other kind of edge protection.
“”This case should act as a warning to firms not to cut corners and to make sure they use the right equipment for the job they’re doing,”” said HSE inspector Mark Baker.
Meanwhile, in Monmouth, a man working on the refurbishment of a roof fell a distance of around six metres.
His employer had already been warned about the need for edge protection, which had caused their work nationwide to come to a halt while guardrails were fitted where necessary.
“”It is a reminder to all companies who expect their employees to work at height of their legal duties to manage safety and provide the protection required to safeguard them from falls,”” said HSE inspector Sue Adsett.