HSE pleased at scaffolding turnout

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has expressed its pleasure at the number of organisations which attended its scaffolding safety seminar, held in conjunction with Aberdeen city council.

HSE inspector Niall Miller said more than 200 delegates were present at the event and they were given presentations as well as demonstrations on how to use scaffolding in a safe manner.

Mr Miller claimed a large number of people are killed every year as a result of flawed scaffolding erection and said he was delighted that so many different organisations attended the seminar to see how safety could be improved.

"Defective and poorly erected scaffolding poses significant risks to both construction workers and members of the public and each year a high number of people are killed and seriously injured," he stated.

Under the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996, employers are required to ensure a safe place of work, prevent falls with specific rules for work over two metres high and erect scaffolding under competent supervision.