HSE 'dismayed' by Merseyside inspection

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said it was 'dismayed' by a series of inspections in the Merseyside area which saw it take action against 13 of the 15 sites it visited.

HSE inspectors arrived unannounced at a series of refurb sites across Sefton - concentrating on Southport, Crosby and Bootle.

It served seven prohibition notices, stopping work immediately until remedial action had been taken, and six improvement notices where improvements have to be made within a specific time period.

HSE inspector Susan Ritchie said: "I was dismayed to find that 13 enforcement notices were issued in one day when we ispected 15 sites. HSE will not tolerate poor health and safety on construction sites."

She said that unsafe use of access towers and scaffolds were among the most common breaches of health and safety law.