Construction Worker Without Safety Gear Prompts Stop Works From Authorities
Authorities have issued a stop works notice on a construction site in St Paul’s Bay after a photo surfaced online showing a worker standing unharnessed on dangerously unstable scaffolding, Times of Malta reported.
The image, shared in a St Paul’s Bay Facebook group, shows the worker several floors above ground level, standing at the very top of the scaffolding with no visible safety gear while using a paint roller to work on the building’s exterior.
The scaffolding, which appears to be loosely tethered to nearby balconies, was described by sources close to the investigation as “outrageous” and “so insecure it shouldn’t even be touched at this stage.”
Upon visiting the site earlier this morning, officers from the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) confirmed the conditions seen in the photograph and issued a stop works notice.
Investigations are ongoing, with the OHSA indicating that criminal charges may follow, although at this stage, no specific details have been released.
On Thursday, wind speeds ranged from force two to force five, according to the Meteorological Office at Malta International Airport: adding further concern to the precarious conditions in which the worker was operating.
The contractor originally responsible for the building, C. Muscat Ltd (Muscat Contractors), has denied any involvement in the incident. In a statement, the company said it had completed its construction work in April 2025 and was no longer responsible for the site.
“C. Muscat Ltd was hired for the construction only,” the company said. “The health and safety officers were informed and acknowledged that our works are complete. We are no longer in the loop nor responsible for that site.”
The site in question is covered by various planning permits. The most recent application, approved last year, includes the construction of basement-level garages, a ground floor retail outlet, and seven overlying apartments, replacing a similar permit granted in 2022. The listed applicant for all permits is John Grima.
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