The Birmingham sign-maker’s warnings came after a winter in which the wild weather took its toll in floods, coastal erosion, and damage to homes and businesses. In one incident in January a man was killed when a sign fell on him by a betting shop in Camden, London. The 30ft sign outside a William Hill shop appears to have fallen during the storms.
Proving who is responsible for a sign’s safety can be a minefield—what if signs have been vandalised or damaged by a third party”
Tim Andrews said it is vital to make sure signs are properly constructed as the legal consequences of an accident are huge. Proving who is responsible for a sign’s safety can be a minefield—what if signs have been vandalised or damaged by a third party?
Andrews himself witnessed a sign brought down in the winter storms blocking a road in Birmingham. Fortunately nobody had been hurt when it fell but once it was on the highway clearly if could have caused a road traffic accident leading to unforeseen consequences.
The advice is to ensure signs meet all health and safety considerations, and if in doubt about the structure of the sign to take an old fashioned “belt and braces” attitude.