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UK News - Breaking news in the field of health and safety
Joist hangar use requires consideration in assessment.....
Joist hangar use requires consideration in assessment of risks
An HSE inspector is urging the construction industry to carry out sufficient risk assessment to ensure safe systems of work, and that the outcome of these assessments is brought to the attention of those affected by them.
The warning follows the prosecution of Harron Homes (North West) Ltd of Warrington, which was fined £18,000, with £4,210 costs, by Huyton Magistrates after admitting breaching S.3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in the circumstances of an incident in October 2004 at one of its sites in Kirkby, Merseyside, in which 4 bricklayers sustained a variety of injuries when the 1st floor of the 2-storey house in which they were working collapsed.
Investigation established that the floor was supported by joists that were fixed to one side of the building by metal joist hangers which had not been adequately built into the brickwork. Without props or proper use of joist hangers, the weight of the men plus a large number of stacked concrete blocks had overloaded the floor, its design strength was reduced because the joist hangers had not been installed as stated in the manufacturer's instructions.
Comment:
'"This is the 3rd prosecution I have had to take in relation to the overloading of floors supported by joist hangers. House builders and others who use joist hangers should make sure that they have carried out an adequate assessment of the risks associated with using joist hangers in the particular buildings they are working on.
A suitable and sufficient risk assessment, taking account of manufacturers instructions, should enable them to develop safe systems of work. Those working on construction sites of this type should be fully informed of the safe systems of work to follow.
It is fortunate that the 4 were men who were injured in the collapse suffered relatively minor injuries. However this incident could have easily resulted in one or more fatalities and the level of penalty set by the Magistrates reflects the potential seriousness of this accident." - HM Inspector of Health and Safety who investigated the accident.
