Scaffold Collapse Takes Painter To Death

Painters were painting a new warehouse. To paint the roof supports, a scaffold was needed. The crew borrowed a scaffold located in the warehouse. They dismantled the borrowed scaffold, moved it to where they were working and reconstructed it. However, they failed to replace the cross-bracing.

Two painters were working from the top planks as they painted each section of the roof support. To move the scaffold, one worker would kneel on the scaffold and pull it along by using the roof supports. The other worker would step onto the metal racking beside the scaffold and from there would steady the scaffold as it was moved.

The incident occurred while they were involved in this unsafe act. As the scaffold started to move, it began to twist and then topple to the floor. The victim fell from the top of the scaffold to the floor below.

The incident shows the importance of making sure scaffolding is properly constructed, assembled and secured. Never move scaffolding with anyone on it.