Scaffolding Removal

flaneurs_lobster

Alderbank said:

OP, there are H&S hazards with scaffolding in place unnecessarily. There are security risks to your property of course and risks to kids who climb on it. If they fall it is your responsibility as the occupier. At a very minimum make sure all access ladders are removed.

So if next door's kids come onto my property without permission, climb the scaffolding I've got up for the roof job and then fall off and brain themselves then it's my fault?

Don't think so.

What if they climb my garden wall and fall off? Cut themselves on the pair of garden shears I've left out? Trip on my wonky patio slabs?

PHK

flaneurs_lobster said:

Alderbank said:

OP, there are H&S hazards with scaffolding in place unnecessarily. There are security risks to your property of course and risks to kids who climb on it. If they fall it is your responsibility as the occupier. At a very minimum make sure all access ladders are removed.

So if next door's kids come onto my property without permission, climb the scaffolding I've got up for the roof job and then fall off and brain themselves then it's my fault?

Don't think so.

What if they climb my garden wall and fall off? Cut themselves on the pair of garden shears I've left out? Trip on my wonky patio slabs?

Not sure why you are sceptical. A householder is expected to make sure any temporary addition to their home is secure. 

A child might not understand the difference between a climbing frame and scaffolding. They might well not understand how dangerous it is. 

Here’s just one of several examples https://www.pbctoday.co.uk/news/health-safety-news/child-falls-scaffolding/55658/

It’s the same  reason why building sites are kept secure and have warning signs. The company or person responsible can be fined. 

Grumpy_chap

flaneurs_lobster said:

Alderbank said:

OP, there are H&S hazards with scaffolding in place unnecessarily. There are security risks to your property of course and risks to kids who climb on it. If they fall it is your responsibility as the occupier. At a very minimum make sure all access ladders are removed.

So if next door's kids come onto my property without permission, climb the scaffolding I've got up for the roof job and then fall off and brain themselves then it's my fault?

Don't think so.

What if they climb my garden wall and fall off? Cut themselves on the pair of garden shears I've left out? Trip on my wonky patio slabs?

Yes, you would be liable under Occupiers Liability Act.
That would include a prospective burglar tripping on your unsafe patio.
There are special clauses in there for children and items such as scaffolding which can be seen as specially exciting.  You have to, as suggested, ensure that access is prevented so remove the ladders, or obstruct the use of the ladders with a ladder guard or similar:

flaneurs_lobster

OK @PHK & @Grumpy_chap, I stand corrected.

I thought the bit about injuring burglars only applied if you've installed devices intended to injure, like topping your walls in broken glass, electric fences or piranha-filled moats.

Grumpy_chap

flaneurs_lobster said:

OK @PHK & @Grumpy_chap, I stand corrected.

I thought the bit about injuring burglars only applied if you've installed devices intended to injure, like topping your walls in broken glass, electric fences or piranha-filled moats.

It would be particularly unfortunate for the burglar if they successfully navigated that and then succumbed to your wobbly patio slab

HillStreetBlues

PHK said:

Not sure why you are sceptical. A householder is expected to make sure any temporary addition to their home is secure. 

A child might not understand the difference between a climbing frame and scaffolding. They might well not understand how dangerous it is. 

Here’s just one of several examples https://www.pbctoday.co.uk/news/health-safety-news/child-falls-scaffolding/55658/

It’s the same  reason why building sites are kept secure and have warning signs. The company or person responsible can be fined. 

But in that case it was the scaffolding company that was libel. I think that makes sense as a household would be unlikely to have been trained in health and safety on any scaffolding.