Scaffolding Case

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 92, 23 August 1923, Page 7

Scaffolding Case

— '-''CP*BUILDER FINED AT OPUNAKF. Before Mr A. M. Mowlom, S.M., at Opunako, the Inspector of Scaffold ng (Mr W J. Mount] y) pro eeeJed against J. Simmons for hav ing erected a scaffolding at the Pihama factory exceeding twelve feet in height without having notified the inspector of the time he intended to begin the work. On a further count Simmons was charged with failing to comply with the Scaffolding and Fix aval ion Act in regard to do cription of scaf folding and on a still further charge that he did erect scaffolding exceeding 25 feet in height, such scaffolding being erected under the supervision of a person whom an in pector had not certified in the prescribed form to be competent to exerc’se such supervision ns required by the Act. Mr Edmonds appeared for Simmons and entered a plea of guilty on all charges. Mr Mount joy said defendant had been engaged in the building trade in Taranaki for some years. He outlined the occasions of the failure to oomrly with the regxdat’ons and quoted same in "upport of the prosecution, The scaffolding had, he considered, been erected in a dangerous manner Defendant had been noffied of his obligations und°r the Act as late as last Juno, a letter and copy of regulations having been forwarded then. Everything had been done by the Department to as si«t defendant to carry- out the regulations. - e His Worship said the matter was a sgHous one as the defendant had submitted h’s men to risk which tinlaw said they must not undertake In fonner da vs workmen were asked to take undue risks; now the law '.provided ' adequate safeguards and rightly so. Regulations were de signed to prevent rush job-. It did not seem right that defendant should ask his men to take the risk of shortening their lives on account of a shortage of timber. Defendant wag conv cted and fined £5. and 13 coats on the first charge, £3 and 13‘ costs on the second charge, £3 and 13s costs on the third charge.— (Opunako Times).