Spot checks on refurbishment sites find poor
standards of safety
The Health and Safety Executive
Construction Division carried out spot checks at
refurbishment sites during February with
disappointing results -
10th March 2008
During February
the Health and
Safety Executive (HSE) Construction Division
Inspectors were carrying out spot checks on
refurbishment sites with some worrying results.
Over 1,000 checks were made, with over one in three
sites showing unacceptable disregard for workers
safety by putting their lives at risk from
workplace injuries. This lead to the HSEs
inspectors serving 395 enforcement notices with work
being stopped on 30 percent of sites.
Last year there were 23 fatalities caused by
dangerous
work at height and yet parts of the
refurbishment sector still ignore safety precautions
for workers working at height. Over half of the
enforcements issued were as a result of unsafe
conditions for those working at height.
Geoffrey Podger, HSE's Chief Executive warned "We
stopped work on site immediately during
approximately 300 inspections because we felt there
was a real possibility that life would be lost or
ruined through serious injury. Our inspectors were
appalled at the blatant disregard for basic
health and safety
precautions on refurbishment sites across Great
Britain.
HSE will not tolerate negligence or poor safety
standards on construction sites. It is totally
unacceptable that so many lives have been put at
risk and we will take all action necessary to
protect workers, including closing sites and
prosecuting those responsible. The construction
industry should take ownership of this issue and do
more to tackle poor standards on sites".
