Construction alert
The HSE will again be actively inspecting and targeting smaller
construction sites all over the country over the next month. The
inspections will focus on working at height, housekeeping on site
and asbestos issues.
Last year inspectors visited 2,014 sites and 2,414 contractors.
They issued more than 350 prohibition notices to stop dangerous
work – much of it relating to working from height.
Philip White, HSE's Chief Inspector of Construction, said, "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. 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. As we've
demonstrated in previous years, we will not hesitate to take action
if we find poor practice that is putting the lives of workers at
risk.
"This year, apart from 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."