A company has been prosecuted after scaffolding collapsed and caused serious damage to parked cars at an industrial unit in Poole.

Swanage and Dorset Scaffolding and Roofing Limited of Romany Centre Business Park, Wareham Road, Poole, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 19 (2) of the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015. It has been fined £27,000 with £4,051 in costs.

Poole Magistrates' Court heard how the company had been contracted to erect scaffolding at the industrial unit in Alder Hills Business Park, Wallisdown.

-- Advertisement --

However on 14 September 2015, the structure collapsed and narrowly avoided an office worker as they exited the building. Serious damage was also caused to nearby parked cars.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found the company had failed to ensure the scaffolding provided was suitably designed and installed to prevent collapse during use. In addition, HSE said the company failed to ensure the scaffolding was suitably attached to the building to withstand foreseeable wind loads.

HSE Principal Inspector Helena Tinton said: "The company failed to ensure the scaffolding was properly secured to the building to avoid it putting workers and members of the public at risk of it collapsing in high winds.

"It is very lucky nobody was injured as result of this incident. All duty holders have the responsibility to ensure all scaffolding work is properly designed and installed by competent workers."

(LM/JP)