News Article

Refurbishment sites the latest target for safety inspectors


Posted by Chris Owen | Date Posted 20.08.2007 | Time Posted 04:32:33 | Views: 422

Construction inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) stopped work on a number of construction sites in Yorkshire during July and August because significant health and safety risks on sites were not being controlled. During the period, HSE inspectors visited 86 sites in Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and the Meadowhall shopping centre and were required to issue prohibition notices stopping work on 31 occasions because people were at risk of sustaining serious injuries.

In addition, inspectors had to issue Improvement notices on seven occasions to ensure that lasting safety improvements were made.

They targeted well-known risks in the refurbishment sector, particularly work at height, good order and electrical safety.

Despite these risks being well known throughout the industry, they still remain responsible for the majority of the enforcement notices issued on refurbishment and construction sites.
The local campaign has been run as part of a national initiative called "Trips and Falls in Construction 2007" and continues HSE's enforcement-led inspection activity following on from the "Fit Out Campaign" in 2005 and the "Watch Your Step" initiative in 2006.

Reducing the number of injuries and deaths from falls and trips is still a priority for the HSE in helping the construction industry meet its reduced accident target by 2010.

A HSE Inspector, involved in the inspections, commented: "Although health and safety standards on some of the sites visited were encouraging, I am very disappointed at the number of sites where work had to be stopped where the risks should have been evident to a contractor familiar with this type of work."


Published in sections: Health and Safety ::

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