Jail for scaffolder who ignored HSE safety notice

A Rotherham scaffolder has been jailed for three months after ignoring safety advice that led to the serious injury of an employee.

Philip Wolstenholme of Rotherham was charged after one of his workers fell six metres while dismantling a scaffold on 12 January 2007.

The untrained worker suffered serious injuries to his spine and foot when a badly supported board on the scaffold gave way, causing him to fall.

The Health and Safety Exectutive (HSE) had issued Wolstenholme with a notice in March 2006 that outlawed him from using untrained staff to erect or dismantle scaffolding.

HSE inspector Robert Cooper said Wolstenholme had disregarded their advice and the requirements of the notice.

“In the time between the notice being served in March 2006 and the incident in January 2007, he had ample opportunity to train his employees,” he said.

“As a consequence they were not aware of the vital safe working practices that are necessary when doing scaffolding work.”
Wolstenholme pleaded guilty in the Sheffield Magistrate’s Court to a health and safety breach and breach of the prohibition notice on 7 May.

He was sentenced to three months jail.