Scaffold body formed to cut falls from height

The scaffolding industry has a new safety at work organisation – the Scaffold Smart Association (SSA).

The association said it was launched to combat the 12 fatalities and over 1,000 serious injuries a year the industry suffers from falls from height.

It said the greatest cause of fatalities came from falls and accidents caused by falling objects. These are also the second greatest cause of major injury among construction workers.

Dangerously-erected scaffolding and scaffold sheeting, inadequate inspection and a lack of trained, competent scaffolding contractors add to the threat, the SSA said.

The association aims to provide a forum for main contractors, who have a responsibility for safety on site, scaffold contractors, demolition contractors, health and safety representatives and manufacturers.

The SSA will encourage main contractors to include only its own approved scaffolding contractor’s onsite.