Latest figures for last year show scaffolding accidents and incidents plunged 20% at a time when the workforce rose by 12% to 14,686.

The number of accidents reported by National Access and Scaffolding Confederation fell from 139 in 2009 to 121 last year.

The accident frequency rate fell to 0.41 compared to 0.53 the year before and 1.2 a decade ago.

Bob Whincap, immediate past president of the NASC, said: “The vigour with which NASC members continually improve on scaffolding safety is a testament to our commitment to obtain only the highest standards of scaffolding expertise.

“Non-regulated scaffolding firms are at odds with the demands that industry now expects, if a company cannot meet the criteria of the NASC then you have to question their safety practices and ultimately the very serious risk they expose to themselves and others around them”