Liability insurance is imperative as incidents occur and can happen at any moment despite precautions. In this instance a firm from Birmingham has been fined £5000 and ordered to pay £500 costs following the incident in March 2013 and will have repercussions on any employers liability insurance.

A scaffolding worker who fell two metres whilst working at The Bond in Fazeley Street, Birmingham is now having to use a wheelchair to assist in his daily life. Craig Shakespeare, 49, used a ladder to attach supporting scaffold to the back of a wooden set. As he pulled a fixture on the set toward the scaffold to attach it, the fixture came away and Mr Shakespeare lost his balance. Realising he was about to fall he jumped from the ladder but landed heavily and broke both heels of his feet.

The Health and Safety Executive reported that either a tower scaffold or other platform should have been used and not a ladder as readily available guidance clearly states. In court, they were told that the accident could have been avoided if suitable access equipment had been available and utilised.

Swan Scaffolding contractors admitted breaching Working At Height Regulations 2005 and should know the inherent risks along with the rules and requirements set out.

According to figures released by the HSE, 6,300 employees suffered major injuries when falling from height in 2013. It is vital that employers ensure that they have good liability insurance in place. Cheap public liability for scaffolders is readily available when considering the risks. similarly, it is reasonable to that will include employees and can be on a Declared wage-roll or per capita basis.

When looking at public liability insurance for tradesmen, always declare the maximum height that you would work from whilst checking if an insurers height limit is from ground level or from floor level.