More problems with the weather

We recently wrote about the effect of the weather and particularly the wind on site hoardings, and how they are temporary structures and need to be planned accordingly.

Unfortunately we are now reminded, by a recent court case, of how important it is to get this right. A building company refitting a shop in London’s Oxford Street, has just been fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £13,000 legal costs, after a 15ft high Kate Moss billboard fell on to shoppers, injuring 10 and leaving 3 with life changing injuries. One of these had serious vertebrae injuries which will prevent her working again.

“The Health and Safety Executive, which brought the prosecution, said the 11ft 10in (3.6m) high structure which weighed 0.8 tonnes was held upright by a single timber beam attached to the shop front by just two screws.Builders working at the site spotted the screws coming loose moments before the hoarding was blown to the ground by a gust of wind but were unable to stop it.”

Ironically they were able to attach the billboard because the company had increased the height of the existing barrier fencing, to stop debris flying over it into the public areas and hitting people walking past. We await the inevitable civil cases which will surely follow this prosecution.

For more technical information remember that hoardings are temporary works and must be designed in accordance with BS5957.