An Auckland company has been sentenced after a “dramatic” scaffolding collapse in January 2024 which left a number of cars damaged.
Kylin Scaffolding Limited was ordered by the court to pay $8500 in reparations after pleading guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
WorkSafe northern regional manager Brad Duggan said it was “extremely disappointing” the company failed to ensure the nine-metre high structure was safe.
“How this collapse did not end in tragedy is nothing short of miraculous. This was a seriously deficient set up, and a blatant risk to public safety. Businesses must manage their health and safety risks and where they do not, WorkSafe will take action.”
Worksafe described the incident as “a dramatic scaffolding collapse onto a busy Auckland road”.
When the collapse occurred, Kylin Scaffolding Limited’s operations manager was qualified to design, construct, alter and dismantle the scaffold.
However, WorkSafe noted the company “could not explain the safety shortcomings” to WorkSafe investigators.
“It is extremely disappointing that Kylin Scaffolding Limited failed to ensure that this structure was safe, and followed industry standards and guidance.”
Drivers ‘traumatised’
WorkSafe said the scaffold for townhouses that were being built was nine-metres high and was put up on the boundary of the Ellerslie Racecourse.
At the time of its collapse, the structure fell into the path of cars along Peach Parade in Remuera.
A witness told WorkSafe the scaffolding “started to curl like a wave” before it came down on the road. It also noted three workers were nearby at the time, and drivers were left “traumatised” from “swerving to avoid injury or death”.
Shortly after the collapse, 1News spoke to a motorist who described his “shock” at the incident, and shared photos of his Tesla which had suffered damage.
Scaffolding was ‘effectively free-standing’
After an investigation by WorkSafe, it found the scaffolding was “effectively free-standing” and lacked the “minimum safety features to anchor it”.
“For example, it was not tied down, nor was there bracing (known as rakers) used to increase the base width for stability. However, CCTV footage showed workers installing rakers onto the collapsed structure after the incident.”
WorkSafe also found the company did not carry out a risk assessment for the scaffolding on the roadside, nor for installing the scaffolding without rakers.
“Our official guidelines are clear that rakers, ties, and risk assessments are essential, not optional. Construction scaffolding design is complex, and you are gambling with lives if you cut corners,” said Duggan.
1News approached Kylin Scaffolding Limited, who declined to comment.
