A SCAFFOLDER who was caught working at nearly 60ft without safety equipment has been charged with health and safety breaches.

Terrance Murray of Largs Road, Blackburn pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act after he was seen erecting scaffold in an unsafe manner by a member of the public on June 30 last year.

Mr Murray was photographed standing on top of the scaffold in Quay Street, Manchester, with no edge protection and no harness attached to any part of the scaffold or building.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive determined the fall height was estimated at between 42 and 59 feet which would have caused fatal injuries had he fallen from the scaffold.

The investigation found that Mr Murray’s employers had taken reasonable steps to avoid working unsafely at height and that he was well trained and experienced, and had the correct equipment available to him in order to work safely.

He acted alone against his better interest and training to work without edge protection and safety measures in place and was also accompanied by a trainee scaffolder at the time and so was setting an unsafe example.

Mr Murray was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison, suspended for one year and 100 hours of community service, he was also ordered to pay costs of £500 and a victim surcharge of £115.

HSE inspector Seve Gomez-Aspron said the case highlighted the importance of following industry guidance,

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Seve Gomez-Aspron said: “Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work related fatalities in this country and should be taken seriously.

“This case highlights the importance of following industry guidance in order to erect scaffolding in a safe manner, which does not cause risk to members of the public and workers using the scaffold.

"It also serves to remind employees that they have a duty to look after themselves.”