HSE 'dismayed' at Merseyside safety breaches

The Health & 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 unsafe use of scaffolds and access towers were among the most common breaches of health and safety law.