One in five sites fail HSE inspection blitz

One in five construction sites failed health and safety checks during the latest national inspection initiative carried out by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).

Inspectors visited 1,759 refurbishment sites during March and checked on how 2,145 contractors were complying with health and safety regulations.

The HSE took enforcement action on 348 sites where serious safety risks were discovered - the equivalent of almost 20% of all sites visited. And inspectors issued nearly 500 enforcement notices.

Phillip White, HSE’s new chief inspector of construction, said:

“This inspection initiative was well publicised and for our inspectors to still find this level of disregard for basic health and safety standards on refurbishment sites is disappointing.

“While any improvement has to be welcomed, our inspectors still found practices so far below the acceptable standard that they felt it necessary to take enforcement action on one in five sites. This is still very worrying.”

Over half of the enforcement action taken during the March inspection initiative was as a result of dangerous work at height, which led to the death of 34 construction workers in 2007/08.

During the inspection initiative, HSE inspectors looked at whether:

• Jobs that involved working at height had been identified and properly planned to ensure that appropriate precautions were in place
• Equipment was correctly installed / assembled, inspected and maintained and used properly
• Sites were well organised to avoid trips and falls
• Walkways and stairs were free from obstructions
• Work areas were clear on unnecessary materials and waste
• The risks associated with exposure to asbestos were managed and carried out correctly
• The work force were made aware of risk control measures