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HSE to target construction sites

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned all UK construction sites that an intensive inspection initiative, aimed at reducing death and injury in one of Britain's most dangerous industries, will be enforced over the next month.

HSE inspectors will arrive unannounced to ensure that sites are managing work at height safely and that they are in good order, as well as checking the risk of exposure to asbestos.

In 2010, inspectors visited 2,014 sites and 2,414 contractors, issuing more than 350 prohibition notices to stop dangerous work - much of it relating to working from height.

During the inspection initiative, HSE inspectors will be looking at whether:

Jobs that involve working at height have been identified and properly planned to ensure that appropriate precautions are in place;
Equipment is correctly installed / assembled, inspected and maintained and used properly;
Sites are well organised, to avoid trips and falls;
Walkways and stairs are free from obstructions; and
Work areas are clear of unnecessary materials and waste

"This will be the fifth year that we have run the inspection initiative across Britain and we anticipate that there will be examples of both good and bad practice - those where employers are taking all the measures they can to protect their workers and those where safety is way down the list of priorities," said Philip White, HSE's Chief Inspector of Construction.

"This year, as part of ensuring risks from asbestos are properly managed, we will also be checking that, where appropriate, asbestos surveys have been carried out prior to any refurbishment work. Many workers believe that, because asbestos has been banned as a building material, it's no longer a threat to them. But that simply isn't true. Any premises built or refurbished before 2000 could contain asbestos."

Between 2009 and 2010, 42 workers died while working in the UK construction market, with nearly three-quarters of these deaths occurring during refurbishment, repair and maintenance activities.

"A lax attitude to health and safety in one of the more dangerous industries is not acceptable, especially when many of the incidents are completely avoidable by taking common sense actions and precautions," added Mr White.