Safety crackdown at 1500 refurb sites

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced that it aims to inspect 1500 refurbishment sites across the UK throughout March, in order to tackle poor health and safety standards.

HSE has warned that contractors can expect strong enforcement action; in 2007/08 more than half of the workers who died on construction sites worked in refurbishment, repair and maintenance.

In support of its Shattered Lives and Hidden Killer campaigns, HSE’s inspectors will be targeting principal contactors to see how they are managing with regards to working at height safely, keeping good order on site and minimising exposure to asbestos and its associated risks.

In the last two years during similar inspection initiatives, HSE’s Construction Inspectors carried out over 2400 refurbishment site inspections nationally, resulting in enforcement action being taken on approximately one in three of the sites visited.

Stephen Williams, HSE’s chief inspector of construction, said: “While workers in the refurbishment sector continue to be injured and killed, as we stated before our last inspection initiative, HSE will continue to target the contractors and principal contractors on those sites who flout health and safety law and come down hard on them where necessary.”

HSE inspectors will be looking at whether:

• Jobs that involve working at height have been identified and properly planned to ensure that appropriate precautions are in place;

• Equipment is correctly installed/assembled, inspected and maintained and used properly;

• Sites are well organised, to avoid trips and falls;

• Walkways and stairs are free from obstructions;

• Work areas are clear of unnecessary materials and waste;

• The risks associated with exposure to asbestos are managed correctly and carried out in accordance with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 where applicable;

• The workforce is made aware of risk control measures.