Mobile Tower breaches up 36%

The number of mobile scaffold tower breaches has increased by 36% during the first half of 2024, according to a new report published by The Building Safety Group (BSG).

BSG’s latest figures were calculated by comparing the number of tower infringements recorded in Q1 with Q2 this year. Statistical analysis was based on 7500 site inspections conducted by BSG advisers over this period.

The increase in mobile tower violations is concerning given that falls from height remains the largest cause of fatalities in the construction sector. According to figures release by the HSE, deaths resulting from falls from height were up 22% from 2022/23, with some 41 deaths.

Mobile Tower Breaches

The most common types of non-compliances found when inspecting towers include:

• Dangerous methods of erection or dismantling – where a safe system is not being followed
• Defects in the erected scaffold – where the tower structure is incorrectly assembled or where a platform guardrail is missing
• Misuse of the scaffold – where a ladder is used on a tower causing it to overturn or when a person falls while the tower is being moved

Mobile Towers – The Dangers

The dangers of misusing mobile towers was made clear in a recent court case. Cambridge Magistrates Court heard how, on 15 September 2017, Sean Harding was working on a mobile tower levelling a steel beam that was seated on a door lintel. This involved using a crowbar to lever the beam up for a work colleague to insert a metal packer into the gap. Mr Harding caught his jacket sleeve on the tower, lost balance and fell over a single guard rail and down to ground level. He was taken to hospital but died three months later due to medical complications.

An investigation by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the mobile tower wasn’t configured correctly for the task due to the limited headroom and that double guard rails could have been used, if configured correctly. Peter Saunders Builders Ltd of Tennyson House, Cambridge Business Park, Cambridge pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 8 (a) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was fined £16,000 with £5,139.80 costs.

BSG Recommends

Helpful information for reducing the risks associated with mobile towers can be found by logging into the BSG Hub. Hub users can use our ‘Working at Height: Mobile Alloy Towers’ risk assessment template or download and follow the 106 Mobile-Alloy-Tower document.

More information advice is available on the HSE website in the Tower Scaffold section.

Several BSG members have also chosen to enrol on our Mobile Scaffold Tower (3T & AGR) training. The course demonstrates how to follow a safe system of work by using the Advanced Guard Rail (AGR) and the Through the Trap (3T) methods. BSG members will automatically receive a 20% discount on this course.

If you are a member of The Building Safety Group and would like to speak with a BSG Safety Adviser about using mobile towers, please contact us so we can arrange a time for your local adviser to get in touch.