Man killed by falling tube

Hi guys - at this juncture I don't want to post my name (as I am heavily involved in the design of the project) however I can confirm the fatality occurred at The Lancasters (Lancaster Gate), and involved a scaffold pole falling from high level and striking an operative (dry liner) at low level, who was sat smoking in the welfare / smoking area.

The welfare / smoking area should never had been located adjacent to the scaffolding and has now been moved. Unlike what someone in an earlier post suggested this area did not have any sort of roof to it.

Whilst on site yesterday I heard that the scaffold pole fell during alteration works. Apparently the operative un-clamped one end of the pole without realising the opposite end was un-clamped, and thus the pole fell. Apparently there was no method statement for these works. As scaffolders I wonder what you guys think of this - sounds like a lack of care and concentration to me?

H&S on the site is appalling and I have felt unsafe many times during site visits. My user name is an alias before someone comments.

A bucket of roses has been positioned where the fatality occurred. The poor bloke was still alive for at least 4 minutes after the accident which was, in my opinion, totally avoidable.
 
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"As scaffolders I wonder what you guys think of this - sounds like a lack of care and concentration to me?"

Sounds like putting the blame on the scaffolder again before a correct investigation has been made :mad:

What actions did you take after your visits :mad:

And it is TUBE we use :mad: Poles come from Poland you Dipsh*t
 
Thankyou for your post.

It is a sad sad thing to happen.

Thoughts go to the family concerned.

We all go to work intending to return home.


Sorry!!
 
Hi - sorry, I hadn't realised, I will remember tube from now on. Actions I took included reporting H&S shortfalls to the principle contractor. I wasn't blaming the scaffolder per se, we do indeed need to wait for the full report. I was more wondering about protocol in respect of dismantling scaffold tubes etc, and safe working systems. One bloke working alone is usual?
 
Stuff your protocol

Did YOU approach HSE on your mis-givings ???

You say you reported to P.C. what action did he take?????

what further action did YOU Take ???
 
Hi guys - at this juncture I don't want to post my name (as I am heavily involved in the design of the project) however I can confirm the fatality occurred at The Lancasters (Lancaster Gate), and involved a scaffold pole falling from high level and striking an operative (dry liner) at low level, who was sat smoking in the welfare / smoking area.

The welfare / smoking area should never had been located adjacent to the scaffolding and has now been moved. Unlike what someone in an earlier post suggested this area did not have any sort of roof to it.

Whilst on site yesterday I heard that the scaffold pole fell during alteration works. Apparently the operative un-clamped one end of the pole without realising the opposite end was un-clamped, and thus the pole fell. Apparently there was no method statement for these works. As scaffolders I wonder what you guys think of this - sounds like a lack of care and concentration to me?

H&S on the site is appalling and I have felt unsafe many times during site visits. My user name is an alias before someone comments.

A bucket of roses has been positioned where the fatality occurred. The poor bloke was still alive for at least 4 minutes after the accident which was, in my opinion, totally avoidable.
Sorry to hear of this terrible incident,H/S on this site should of been in place from the 1st day of the job by the sounds of it,My thoughts and sympathy go out to everyone involved even more so to the family of the deceased.
 
Concerns were reported to CDM coordinator however none were to do with the scaffolding! Don't see what your problem is I'm just reporting what happened to reduce the roumers. Have some respect. Thanks for your reply ragscaff
 
yo sam ref the pm , wheres my reply then mate , aint passed no comments on you or what happened
 
A young lad has lost his life this was totally avoidable.I'm sure in the weeks to come blame will be apportioned to which ever companies and fines will be dealt out but that isn't going to help the young lad now or his family. Proper planning from day one should have prevented this. What were the H&S professionals on this site thinking
 
Apparently the operative un-clamped one end of the pole without realising the opposite end was un-clamped, and thus the pole fell.

I am having trouble understanding this bit. From what I understand it was a 5ft that fell? Sounds like a transom/dead man for a toe board? How could a transom fall if it is unclipped unless the scaffold was totally pissed? A toe board tube is understandable if they undone the back... or underslung tube is the other one??
 
Hi, not sure I'm not a scafolder, but from what your saying it's probably more involved that how I described it however thats all I was told :(
 
Hi Sam,

Welcome to the forum, but if I was you I would wait for the facts before apportioning blame on this one.
 
Hi Sam and welcom , i have in my 31 years experience often found fittings and tubes removed by other trades,i have had ties removed by trades,i have almost lost fittings and tubes my self because some idiot has interfered with the scaffold. It is not unusual for a scaffolder to adapt scaffolding on his own if it is a minor adaption.I dont know the reason why this happend but scaffolders are very easy to blame but not always at fault
 
gents what we have here in Sam is clearly a HSE Investigator !!!!! its a shame you werent a HSE inspector during all your "visits" and made known or voted with your feet and left the site.
Coming on here and trying to second guess at what happened or appoint blame when clearly you lack the knowledge and common sense to keep your mouth shut.
Also as part of the key "design team" you make out you have a responsibility to safe guard everyone in terms of the design choices you make for installation aswell as post construction.
I am not in a position to comment on the general saftey on site, but as a PM myself guys lets stop this happening if you are doing anything you arent happy with or if the sits you are on isnt safe, please vote with your feet. This is another sad loss of life within our industry.

---------- Post added at 07:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:14 PM ----------

sorry i am going on a bit, what i can tell you all, having spoken to someone today is that it is currently classed as a complete tragedy, i was told The tube in question was acting as a cross brace, whatever happened next i dont exactly know except it travelled vertically from 30m up before hitting something which chucked it horizontally out of the edge of the building approx 40ft away is where it hit the guy.
I am also told everyone involved the scaffolder, first aid team and management on site are in bits over it and guys they have to live with that.
my thoughts go out to the family of the poor guy and everyone involved.
Be safe guys, if in doubt walk lets try and stop this together.
My thoughts are with them all
 
Sorry to bring this sad situation into a debate, but how many working scaffolders have been on site when you have either other trades working either beneath you or above you!!

How many times to you go on site & a crane moves a load above the area you are working in.

You go to the site agent & it is not often anything gets done. You walk off site & you may be sacked!!

Main construction companies have got to stop looking for the harness & listen to the dangers around us. I have seen a hard hat split in two from a 5 ft two lifts up. Luckily it was on the floor!!

It is a dangerous business we are in, we may feel safe but are our surroundings safe.

Be careful!!

Ragscaff
 
I don't think apologies are needed ragscaff, the only way we will ever really learn is through these discussions. I have know idea exactly when I would have heard about this incident without this thread and already it has affected how I treat the boy's on site. It brings certain situations to the front of your mind, and I think that can only be good.
 
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