Scaffolding issues next door

keystone

ljonski wrote: »

You are a member of the public and it appears that debris is being rained down on you. I would make sure a complaint to HSe is logged at the very least . Contact your local Councilor and stress to them the danger to you and your family.

Its a minor crisis not a major drama for heavens sake.

Cheers

DVardysShadow

mysk_girl wrote: »

HSE will do very little apparently as its all on private land, no members of public involved.

???? That sounds like a fob off or wrong advice.

Building sites and factories are private land - so are HSE saying that they will not get involved in those situations?

And as far as I am aware, the protections afforded by H&S legislation extend to anyone who may be affected - not only members of the public. Are HSE saying that because employees are not members of the public they get not protection?

diable

Lesson learned t's always a case of "give a finger take the hand"

I suppose if there is a next time is to get everything in writing and specify that you need to sign it off before it's accepted and usable.

muckybutt

mysk_girl wrote: »

HSE will do very little apparently as its all on private land, no members of public involved. Have spoken to building control who also said they are powerless in this situation. Ended up on phone to hubby and got quite upset about it so he has gone home at lunch to try and make sure that something is done so it is secure over the weekend. The scaffolders are on holiday apparently and will be back on Monday. Am very leery about allowing further scaffolding though, we will see how it looks when I get home today about 3.30.

Very surprised HSE dont want to do anything.

Its basic HASAWA stuff, every employer - employee has the responsibility for themselves and any other person their work may affect, should they fail to do that then it is a breach of the sid act for which the penalties are severe.

A falling slate or tile from a scaffold will almost certainly maim if not kill someone never mind damage property.

keystone wrote: »

Its a minor crisis not a major drama for heavens sake.

Cheers

I wouldnt rate it as a minor crisis at all, from what the op has stated in their post its a clear failing of H&S from the scaffolders and builders.
If the scaffolders hadn't netted the scaffold then the builders should have then netted it as they also have a duty of care to those their work may affect.

HASAWA
3 General duties of employers and self-employed to persons other than their employees.E+W+S+N.I.

(1)It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.
(2)It shall be the duty of every self-employed person to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that he and other persons (not being his employees) who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.

ian103

I'd agree with poster above. HSE should / will be interested.

It sounds like penny pinching by the scaffolder / builder, they should be providing a safe method of work and safe to the general public - if not and someone gets hurt HSE will prosecute and the penny pinching will really cost them.

There should be kick boards and debris netting / guards to prevent materials falling.

Take a photo of the scaffold with no toe boards / debris netting plus the debris on the floor - email to HSE you may get a different answer then.

keystone

muckybutt wrote: »

I wouldnt rate it as a minor crisis at all,

No you misunderstand me I was commenting on the post that wins the OTT post of the week award concerning "debris raining down".

Yes it is an HSE issue but its not an issue of national security threatening the realm. There needs to be a sense of proportion. In any event the OP (if I remember correctly) has been told that the scaffolders will be back from holiday on Monday and it will be fixed on Monday. Thats the time to take further action if it doesn't happen. If the builder has any sense he does no work in the affected area until it has been rectified.

Cheers

rxbren

^ the scaffold is structually safe although should have had kickboards fitted when erected
as for the net when they were errecting the scaffold you should have been straight on their case to have it put it

mysk_girl

So, the scaffolder came round today. Not only did he not net, or fix the kickboards "they'll be finished soon, no point now", he informed (not asked!) me that to put the next phase up, they will need to go THROUGH my shed roof.

As the roof work is maintenance, not new build, I have to allow them access as far as I know, but surely I don't have to let them damage my property?

The shed in question is a brick built affair with a corrugated steel roof, and we actually need to demolish it anyway as we are building our own extension next year (for which we need no access to next door, designed like that on purpose to not inconvenience them!), and neighbour knows this. So then he said that if I pay for a skip (!), they will do me the favour of demolishing my shed and putting it in the skip. But it needs to be done by next Monday, 'K? So we will need to empty the shed of its considerable contents and find somewhere else to store them, on the weekend when we have things planned already. And in any event, they want to go through the roof with the stanchion on Monday, which won't be possible with the contents as they are.

I was so gobsmacked (and late to pick lots of children up from school) that I just muttered at them, so now they think it's a done deal. Hubby hit the roof when I relayed this when he got home, and I simply have no idea what now.

None at all.

I do not wish to fall out with the new neighbours before they move in, but how do you get it across that this is really not the best way to start off?

ljonski

Are you sure this is real? Perhaps if you pinch yourself you may find that you are dead and that you are being punished for your many sins. I would not, i repeat not let anyone dictate to you when you dismantle your shed and when its contents have to be removed

I have to allow them access as far as I know,

Tell them nothing happens and no one should be on your property till you get legal advice

mysk_girl

I feel like such a walkover when you put it like that...

I'm pretty sure the law allows for reasonable access over neighbours land for maintenance so eventually I WILL have to allow them access, but the shed is in a position that could be bridged with a cantilever scaffold. Trouble is, they have to be designed properly and will be a LOT more expensive, which is why I guess they want to do it like they 'suggested'.

What a mess.