Unharnessed painter atop 'outrageous' sixth-floor St Paul's Bay scaffolding
OHSA issued a stop works notice and is investigating the site
Safety authorities have halted works on a construction site in St Paul’s Bay after a photo emerged showing an unharnessed worker standing on “outrageous” scaffolding some six floors up while painting a building.
The picture, posted to a St Paul’s Bay-themed Facebook group, appears to show a worker standing on top of the scaffolding, holding a paint roller with both hands while painting the side of a new construction close to the top floor.
The scaffolding appears to be tethered to adjacent balconies in some places. No safety equipment is evident in the photo.
A spokesperson for the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) said officers visited the site Friday morning, when they issued a stop works notice for the site.
The site on Friday morning. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier.
The site, deserted Friday after the stop works notice was issued by OHSA. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier.
Investigations were ongoing and could amount to criminal charges, the spokesperson added, but did not disclose further details.
Sources close to the investigation described the scaffolding as “outrageous” and “so insecure it shouldn’t even be touched at this stage”, adding authorities were currently considering how to secure or safely dismantle it.
Winds ranged from force two to force five on Thursday, according to the Meteorological Office at Malta International Airport.
The contractor for the site, Muscat Contactors (C. Muscat Ltd) distanced themselves from the incident, saying the company was no longer responsible for the site and was not undertaking the finishing work on the building.
"C. Muscat Ltd was hired for the construction only," they said in a statement. "This was complete in April 2025. The health and safety officers were informed and they acknowledged that our works are complete. We are no longer in the loop nor responsible for that site."
The site is covered by various planning permits; last year, an application covering the construction of basement level garages, ground floor retail property and seven overlying apartments was approved, superseding a similar permit from 2022.
The applicant for all permits at the site is John Grima.
In May, a video emerged showing a construction worker using a jackhammer to drill into a second-floor balcony he was standing on.