Building boss fined £4,000 after scaffolding collapse

A man has been fined £4,000 after his firm’s scaffolding collapsed in a street on Teesside.

Redcar-based B&J Scaffolding was prosecuted after 85 metres of scaffold was overturned by the wind and collapsed. The incident took place on Jedburgh Street, Middlesbrough, on the evening of 18 January.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found that the scaffold was not “adequately secured to the houses” and “was missing elements used to stabilise the structure”.

The owner of the firm, William Bedford, pleaded guilty at Teesside Magistrates’ Court. He was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,500.

HSE inspector Natalie Wright, said: “The scaffold had been used as a working platform for at least five days before the incident, by workers onsite carrying out work to the house fronts. It could have collapsed at any time, creating significant risk to workers and members of the public.”