HSE to Inspect Construction Sites
03/12/2010
A pan Great Britain intensive inspection drive on construction sites is going to be launched soon by the Health and Safety Executive inspectors, focused at putting a stop to potentially harmful practices.
The HSE wants to spread awareness about risks at construction sites and also try to put an end to avoidable fatalities and injuries. Construction is amongst one of the most perilous industries of
The inspection, slated to begin sometime soon will have the primary objective of inspecting refurbishment and roofing work. Unannounced inspections by inspectors will be conducted to make sure whether working at heights is being managed properly at sites.
Philip White, the Chief Inspector of Construction for the HSE said that every year a large number of workers at construction sites are killed or suffer injuries needlessly. Even if a few sectors in this industry have improved considerably in recent years in terms of work safety, standards of small refurbishment projects are still a cause of concern.
Mr. White further stated that a careless attitude towards health and safety was not at all acceptable to the HSE, especially because most of the accidents that occur can be avoided by taking a few precautions. In the last three years of running such initiatives and the latest inspections, the HSE had noted efforts towards good practice and safety at some sites. However, if during the inspection it was found that workers’ or public safety is being compromised, then either the sites would be shut down or responsible people would be prosecuted.
In 1,759 sites and 2,145 contractors inspected last year, over 270 prohibition notices were issued to stop dangerous practices involving working at heights.
For anyone involved in major building, maintenance or refurbishment work compliance with Construction (Design and Management) Regulations - CDM Regulations - is compulsory. Contact the experts at Workplace Law about their CDM coordinator services, who give advice and assistance to the client on their role and the measures they must take to bring work procedures up to date with the requirements of new legislation.
