Company Fined After Wall Panels Collapsed During Cleanroom Dismantling

Brief Summary

An employer dismantling a cleanroom fitted with wall and roof panels did not plan and manage the risks of structural instability. The investigation found inadequate risk assessment and method statement controls, missing supports, and poor communication to workers, leading to a fatal fall from a scissor lift.

What Was The Incident?

During dismantling of a steel framed cleanroom used for a welding robot, a worker was working at about four metres on a scissor lift removing wall panels. After the roof had been removed, the remaining wall panels did not have sufficient lateral support and collapsed. The panels struck the lift platform, and the worker was ejected from the scissor lift onto the concrete floor.

What Was The Outcome?

The employer pleaded guilty to breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act etc 1974. The company was fined £50,000 plus a victim surcharge of £3,750.

Key Points To Consider

Assess the dismantling risks, not just the condition at the start. Do not assume a structure built by others is safe to dismantle without detailed assessment of how the structure will behave as elements are removed.

Control the risk of unplanned collapse. Ensure your method statement addresses loss of structural stability during dismantling and sets clear measures to prevent collapse as work progresses.

Verify that planned supports are actually in place. Where supports such as props or temporary A frame supports are required by the method statement, confirm they are installed and in use before the relevant work starts.

Communicate risk information to the people doing the work. Make sure the risk assessment and method statement are communicated to workers involved so they understand the specific dangers created by the dismantling sequence.

Do not rely on visual checks alone. Visual inspection of the exterior is not enough where latent defects or structural instability could increase collapse risk during dismantling.

HSE Prosecution Link