Construction Site Safety – news from the HSE

Construction Site Safety is proving to be an important theme for 2014. According to a recent HSE Newsletter (Issue 37),  dangerous practices and poor standards were found at nearly half of the building sites visited during a month-long safety drive by HSE. The nationwide campaign saw inspectors visiting 2607 sites where refurbishment or repair work was taking place. The HSE found that basic safety standards were not being met on 1105 sites. On 644 sites, practices were so poor that Enforcement Action was necessary to protect workers. To this end, 539 Prohibition Notices served ordering dangerous activities to stop immediately and 414 Improvement Notices were issued requiring safety standards to be improved.

Heather Bryant, the HSE’s Chief Inspector of Construction, said:

It is disappointing to find a significant number of sites falling below acceptable health and safety standards. The inspections revealed that poor practice often went hand in hand with a lack of understanding. Through initiatives like this we are able to tackle underlying issues before they become established and we will continue to work with the industry in an effort to drive up standards. ‘However, those who recklessly endanger the health and lives of their workforce can expect to face tough consequences.

The numbers from the Construction Site Safety Inspections:

2607  Site visits
1105   Sites failed safety checks
644     Sites saw immediate enforcement action being taken
539     Prohibition notices served ordering dangerous activities to stop immediately
414     Improvement notice issued requiring standards to improve

Concerned about construction site safety for projects under your control?

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