Construction Health & Safety News, Advice and Information from PP Construction Safety

HSE Chair pays tribute  to mananagement on major construction site

Judith Hackitt, Chair of HSE, has visited the £500m Peel Media development in Salford to see how leadership and innovation are helping to ensure site safety.

The visit focussed on how safety is paramount in delivering the 36-acre site at Salford Quays, which will be home to offices, studios, leisure facilities, a hotel and apartments. A new guardrail scaffolding system was highlighted during the visit.  (more…)

New safety leaflets for construction site builders now on HSE website

Four short and plain guides for ’busy builders’ have been posted on the HSE website.

These cover the following issues: (1) Running a small construction site  (2) Manual Handling (3) Roofwork and (4)  Welfare

HSE construction proactive enforcement rising and prosecutions falling

Our provisional analysis of HSE Enforcement Registers suggests that number of HSE Construction Division proactive enforcement notices issued contines to rise and increased 22% during 2009. 

The number of prosecution cases fell 9% over the same period. (more…)

Builder fined after workers on extension put at risk

Shane Homes Limited, of Hull has been today fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £799 costs at Beverley Magistrates’ Court on 10 March 2010 after using unsafe scaffolding. The court heard that during a routine inspection on a house extension HSE observed working on scaffolding that was unsafe and posed a risk of serious injury. (more…)

Prosecution cases and enforcement notices added to register

The records of enforcement action taken by HSE Construction Division during the week 27 December 2009 to 04 January 2010 were added to the HSE database on 10 March 2010.

There were no construction sector prosecutions added to the HSE Register during this period. There was 1 construction sector enforcement notice added to the HSE Register. (more…)

Merseyside builder fined for putting lives at risk

A Merseyside builder has been fined £1,500 after he and another man were spotted working on a pub roof in St Helens without safety equipment. 

HSE prosecuted Charles Molloy (Molloy Building Contractors T/A) after an inspector spotted the men on the roof of the Black Horse Hotel on Park Road on 18 June 2009. (more…)

Manslaughter charges anticipated after alleged evidence of poor repair 

The owner of a crane which collapsed in New York in 2008 is expected to face charges of manslaughter.

The incident led to the death of two workmen. Investigation by Manhattan District Attorney is said to have revealed evidence the crane was not properly repaired after being struck by lightning. See full report.

Firm fined after worker trapped for two hours in trench collapse

Vickers Construction Limited, has been ordered by Darlington Magistrates to pay over £8k in fines and prosecution costs after a groundworker was injured and trapped for more than two hours when a trench collapsed.

The court heard that the incident occurred in November 2008 as an excavator was being used to open a trench for drainage pipes on a sloping bank near Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. (more…)

‘Fit Notes’ and Health Adviceline to support earlier returns to work

From 6 April 2010, doctors will be able to advise if a patient ‘may be fit for work’ and offer advice on the effects of their health condition. Patients may be declared able to work if temporary changes e.g. reduced hours / amended duties could be accommodated.

A new occupational health adviceline is being extended to give every small business in Britain easy access to professional occupational health advice from 1 April 2010. (more…)

If you think construction work is up and down try ferry work!

This short video clip shows a passenger ferry (The Caribou) operating between Port-aux-Basques in (Newfoundland) and North Sydney (Nova Scotia) in the winter.

As you watch, remember this ferry carries 1200 passengers, with two vehicle decks holding 370 motoe vehicles and 77 tractor trailers!

Trapped groundworker rescued by defendant and firefighters

Contractor Anthony Hill (Hill Plant Hire T/A) of Sawston, Cambridgeshire has been ordered to pay over £5k in fines and prosecution costs at Cambridge Magistrates Court on 4 March 2010.

The 58-year-old builder was in charge of groundwork on a construction project in October 2007 when a trench collapsed on one of his employees. (more…)

Builder prosecuted after failing to provide adequate welfare facilities

Bryan Ellis Brown, a partner in Bryan Brown & Son, of Bridlington has been fined for providing below par welfare facilities on a small site in July 2009. 

Magistrates heard that a toilet unit was not plumbed in, and there was no water supplied to sinks in a cabin or adjacent toilet compartment at the construction site for a pair of cottages. (more…)

Blacklisting trades unionists now outlawed under new regulations

It is now unlawful for trade union members to be denied employment through blacklists, under new regulations which came into effect on 2 March 2010.

The Government has introduced new rules banning the practice following public consultation on the subject and evidence that a number of employers in the construction sector had been unlawfully vetting workers. (more…)

Companies committed to crown court after motorway worker death

Three companies facing an HSE prosecution have been committed to the Crown Court for trial. The proceedings follow an incident in which a motorway worker died when crushed against crash barriers on the M25 Holmesdale Tunnel, Enfield.

The defendants: Carillion Highway Maintenance Ltd, Traffic Management (North East) Ltd and CD Fencing and Construction Services Ltd are due to appear at Southwark Crown Court on April 27 2010. Further details.

Workman falls from scaffold whilst barrowing bricks on platform

A young construction worker has died after falling from scaffolding on a Chestnut Homes development in Skegness, Lincs. He is understood to have also been struck by falling building materials.

Justin Gillman, aged 26, is believed to have been pushing a wheel barrow of bricks on the scaffolding when he fell on Friday 26 February 2010. Further details.

Intensive inspection initiative launched across UK

HSE wants to raise awareness of construction site risks and prevent unnecessary injuries and deaths. The inspection initiative starts on 1 March 2010 and will focus on refurbishment or roofing work.

Inspectors will make unannounced visits to ensure that sites are managing work at height safely and are in good order. (more…)

Investigation launched after workman dies following ladder fall

The Northumberland Gazette has reported brief details of a fatal accident on a project Belford, Northumberland. A 62 year-old workman fell from a ladder at Adderstone Hall.  He was air-lifted to Newcastle General Hospital where he later died.

Death on Barrow Docks roads project thought to be work related 

Cumbrian police are carrying out a joint investigation with HSE after a workman died at the Barrow Docks project.

The deceased man is reported be a sub-contractor to major contractor Carillion which is building the Waterfront link roads on the former docks land. Further details.

Water firm fined after faulty safety device put operator in intensive care

Northumbrian Water has been ordered to pay more than £34k in fines and prosecution costs following the potentially fatal crushing of the operator of a skid steer loader in Norfolk. (more…)

Council and contractor fined after fatal reversing of surfacing truck

Rotherham Council and Brocklebank & Co Ltd have been ordered to pay over £135k in fines and prosecution costs after the death of a workman who was crushed beneath the nearside wheels of the vehicle during road surfacing operations. (more…)

Birmingham developer highlights working together benefits

With work almost completed on Birmingham’s landmark development, The Cube, the developer has been recognised for the way it has worked closely and positively with the HSE to reduce slips, trips and falls.

The on site management team for Builldability, the Birmingham Development Company construction arm, has been in regular, ongoing talks with the HSE construction team, working closely to ensure on site safety is a priority. (more…)

More financial help for widespread asbestos related disease

The Government announced has today that lump sum payments from the 2008 Mesothelioma Scheme will increase by around 40% from April to the same level as those paid under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) Act 1979.

This will mean that individuals who develop the disease from asbestos exposure outside the workplace will receive (more…)

Contractor fined after failing to tie windy location scaffold

Craven Scaffolding Ltd of Manchester has been ordered to pay ove £30k in fines and prosection costs after scaffolding collapsed outside a new gym crushing several cars.

The incident occurred in January 2009 after the company failed to tie the scaffolding to the building, despite it being in a windy location. (more…)

Safety Notice for designers after boy crushed by powered gates

Faulkner Gates Limited, of Romsey, Hampshire, has today been ordered to pay £120k in fines and prosecution costs after a young boy was crushed to death by electrically powered gates. 

HSE has now issued a Safety Notice indicating the action required by designers etc. (more…)

Workman falls through roof on way to work area

Eastern Hardware Ltd from Lowestoft, Norfolk has today been ordered to £6k in fines/costs after a workman fell through a fragile roof whilst installing air conditioning ducting at in April 2008 when he fell a metre through a fragile roof.

The injured workman landed on internal steel duct work and suffered significant bruising as a result. (more…)