Hi I would like to canvas opinion of whether the following incident is notifiable under riddor a counter balanced handrail scaffold comprising normal toe board and two rails, mounted on the eaves on a low pitch gable roof was blown off due to high winds. The building is a 5m high at the eaves rising to 6m at the apex of the ridge on which the end of the handrail had been terminated. access to the roof was by 5m haki tower independent to the handrail. Riddor does state that : Collapse of scaffolding 18 The complete or partial collapse (including falling, buckling or overturning) of: a.a substantial part of any scaffold more than 5 metres in height; b.any supporting part of any slung or suspended scaffold which causes a working platform to fall (whether or not in use); or c.any part of any scaffold in circumstances such that there would be a significant risk of drowning to a person falling from the scaffold. The incidents covered here are those involving any ‘scaffold’. This includes any tower, trestle, slung or suspended scaffold. The figure of 5 metres used in relation to the height of scaffolding refers to the height of the scaffolding itself from its base and not necessarily to the distance between the top of the scaffold and the ground. Incidents involving the failure of the suspension arrangements of slung or suspended scaffolds are covered if the failure causes a working platform or cradle to fall. Reportable failures of suspension arrangements would include failures of outriggers, roof rigs or suspension ropes or winches I am interpreting this as meaning that the scaffold has to be 5m in total height , I am presuming this does not include the access haki tower which remained upright. Therefore as a the rail was the standard 950mm there is no need to report ... thoughts are welcome

Hi Simon I feel it needs reporting and I would. I said in a earlier post if a scaffold blew of a roof any height above 5m a few people think we should not report it as a dangerous occurrence as the standards for the hand railing are only 950mm in height. No scaffold should blow over if erected correctly to there design . Handrails included for edge protection need designing for this reason which takes in account wind speeds and weather for the area of scaffold to be erected. I think you should contact the HSE for there advice. Example: Hand rail blows of roof in city centre but HSE do not want to know as it was only 950mm high ?