One in five sites fail inspections
June 25th 2009

HSE inspectors visited 1759 refurbishment sites during March and checked on how 2145 contractors were complying with health and safety regulations.

On 348 sites sufficiently serious risks were discovered to warrant enforcement action being taken – either stopping work immediately or ordering improvements to be made. Close to five hundred enforcement notices were issued.

HSE said that improvements had been witnessed by its inspectors in certain parts of the country since last year – when inspectors had to take enforcement action on 30% of the sites visited.

Phillip White (pictured) HSE’s new Chief Inspector of Construction, said:“This inspection initiative was well publicised and for our inspectors to still find this level of disregard for basic health and safety standards on refurbishment sites is disappointing.

“While any improvement has to be welcomed, our inspectors still found practices so far below the acceptable standard that they felt it necessary to take enforcement action on one in five sites. This is still very worrying.” Unsafe work at height practices remain a huge concern. As in the previous initiative, over half of the enforcement action taken this time was as a result of dangerous work at height.

During the inspection initiative, HSE inspectors looked at whether:

• Jobs that involved working at height had been identified and properly planned to ensure appropriate precautions were in place

• Equipment was correctly installed / assembled, inspected and maintained and used properly

• Sites were well organised to avoid trips and falls

• Walkways and stairs were free from obstructions

• Work areas were clear on unnecessary materials and waste

• The risks associated with exposure to asbestos were managed and carried out correctly

• The work force were made aware of risk control measures

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