25 September 2019
During a recent construction site visit a Prohibition Notice was served to prevent a carpenter working from improvised, unguarded work platforms. Access to and from the work area was via a single scaffolding plank.
Most disturbing was the fact that the carpenter was being assisted by a young apprentice.
All the photos below were taken on the same site.
The first photograph shows access to the work area across a single plank. As well as the obvious risk of falling, the unsupported plank could snap, potentially causing a fall of three metres.
In photograph two a step ladder is set up on two half scaffold boards, over open joists, with a risk of falling five metres.
The third photograph shows a single half scaffold board placed across the top of a step ladder to form a platform. This was carried out to enable work amongst the roof joists, but created a risk of falling five metres.
Despite sustained campaigns by regulators around the world the risk of falling from height remains the single biggest killer in the construction industry.
Fig 1: Single unsupported plank access
Fig 2: Stepladder over open joists
Fig 3: Platform created on top of stepladder
gov.je