Within the UK :
Work at height remains the biggest killer within the Construction Industry.
According to the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) National Statistics, during the period 2021/2022, 123 workers were killed at work.
According to the Labour Force Survey 441,000 workers sustained an injury at work, 2021/2022.
30 fatalities in Construction 2021/2022.
During a five-year period 2017/2022 18 fatalities occurred, due to being struck by flying/falling objects.
Understandably so, the effort by the HSE and Construction Trade Associations to improve work at height safety is unwavering.
Statutory Legislation; The Work at Height Regulations 2005 places legal duties and responsibilities on all those planning, managing and carrying out work at height.
Scaffolding Industry Trade Associations; NASC ( National Access and Scaffolding Confederation ) and the Scaffolding Association are continuously reviewing, revising and publishing specific scaffold industry guidance and best practise.
TG20:21: Is the published Guide to Best Practise, written by the NASC; It is based on the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and BS EN 12811. The publication is fully endorsed by the HSE.
In section 6.15 of TG20:21, gaps in working platforms are addressed.
It states the using proprietary gap filling products, typically manufactured from plastic or rubber can be used to close gaps.
The Work at Height Regulations 2005, Schedule 3: Requirements for all working platforms, state:
A working platform shall-
(a) be of sufficient dimensions to permit the safe passage of persons and the safe use of plant or materials required to be used and to provide a safe working area having regard to the work being carried out there;
(b) possess a suitable surface and, in particular, be so constructed that the surface has no gap-
(i) through which a person can fall
(ii) through which any material or object could fall and injure a person; or
(iii)giving rise to other risk of injury to any person, unless measures have been taken to protect persons against such risk; and
(c) be erected and used, maintained in such condition, as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable -
(i) the risk of slipping or tripping; or
(i) any person being caught between the working platform and an adjacent mstructure.
Using ScaffGap will raise your company profile, comply with Scaffold Industry Best Practise and Statutory Legislation, demonstrate your commitment to safe working practises and most importantly; contribute to the collective effort to reduce the shocking incident rates of Work at Height.
Over the past decade, great strides have been made within the scaffolding industry regarding safe systems of work and advancements in innovation, all playing their part in creating a safer world. ScaffGap Ltd is proud to work with scaffolding organisations , companies, trade bodies and associations to bring about positive change within the industry. We are continuously developing our product and work closely with a number of leading scaffolding companies throughout the UK.
We welcome collaborative ideas and feedback from the scaffolding industry as we believe in practical and commercial solutions that actually work.
ScaffGap is manufactured in the UK.
For more information about our products, visit our website: https://www.scaffgap.co.uk/ or contact us:
Mr John Houlihan ( Director ) 07930 606665
Mr Steve Barlow ( Director ) 07825 332334
ScaffGap Ltd is a registered company in England. Registration No. 6962375
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