Safety crackdown follows boy's scaffolding death

The death of an 11-year-old boy who was hit by unsecured scaffolding which fell from a truck has led to new safety standards being brought in.

Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood told Maria Dennis, who lost her son Harry in 2022 in the incident in Hooe, East Sussex, the government had brought in new standards "in direct response" to her campaign.

Hastings MP Helena Dollimore said she hoped the new measures would raise awareness of the dangers of unsecured loads.

Guidance on securing loads, external was updated in 2024 and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) says Harry's story shows "just how critical this issue is".

Dollimore said she had been "greatly inspired by Maria's bravery, and her determination to channel her grief into campaigning and action to make sure that a tragedy such as this never happens again".

The updated guidance includes a new section on the importance of risk assessments, clarification on covering loose loads and new sections on securing asbestos waste as well as precast concrete.

Harry was a passenger in his father's car when he was hit by the scaffolding on 15 December 2022. He was taken to hospital but died two days later.

Driver Russell Le Beau, from Eastbourne, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was jailed for four years in 2023.

A petition by Dennis calling for better safety standards in the scaffolding industry, signed by about 2,000 people, was presented to Parliament by Dollimore last year, external.

Greenwood thanked both Dollimore and Dennis for their commitment and "sustained focus" on what she described as an important issue.

The DVSA said the updated guidance applied not only to HGVs but also vans and other light goods vehicles.

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