Lessons learned · HSE-2026-007
Wall panels collapsed onto scissor lift during cleanroom strip-out
A worker was ejected from a scissor lift when a series of cleanroom wall panels collapsed during dismantling. He died from his injuries, and the contractor was fined following an investigation into inadequate risk assessment.
Published by the Institute · reviewed
What happened
A worker with many years' experience was carrying out dismantling of cleanroom wall panels while working from a scissor lift. During the work, a series of panels became unstable and collapsed, striking the platform and ejecting the worker from the lift. He sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation found that the contractor had failed to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for the sequence of panel removal. No safe method statement addressed how the panels would behave once fixings were removed, nor how stability would be maintained as adjoining panels were taken out. There was no assessment of the interaction between the removal sequence and the exposed working position on the scissor lift platform, which offered no protection from falling structure.
The case highlights the particular risks of dismantling modular or panelised structures such as cleanrooms, where panels often rely on each other for lateral stability. Removing one panel can leave neighbouring panels unsupported, with collapse occurring with little warning.
Contributing factors
- No suitable and sufficient risk assessment
- No safe removal sequence for panels
- Unprotected working position on scissor lift
- Reliance on adjoining panels for stability not assessed
What to take from it
- Sequence panel removal so remaining panels retain lateral stability throughout
- Assess how modular or panelised structures depend on adjoining elements for support
- Avoid positioning workers directly beneath or beside panels being released
- Produce a method statement specific to the removal sequence, not a generic strip-out plan
- Review access equipment choice where falling structure risk exists near the platform