OVER 50% OF PROJECTS FAIL HSE ‘HEALTH CHECK’
Chief Inspector condemns ‘unacceptable toll of ill-health’
A national targeted inspection focussing on health risks for construction workers saw enforcement action taken at one in six of hundreds of sites visited.
During a concentrated two-week period of proactive inspections, HSE demanded improvements, and in some cases put an immediate stop to work activities, where they fell short of expected standards.
Inspectors focussed on significant health risk issues, such as respiratory risks from dusts containing silica materials, exposure to other hazardous substances such as cement and lead paint, manual handling, noise and vibration.
Projects pay the price for non-compliance
Final figures have yet to be confirmed, but interim results indicate:
- Projects inspected: 560 sites were visited;
- Work stopped: on at least 13 occasions;
- Enforcement notices: issued at 85 sites (13 Prohibition 107 Improvement Notices); and
- Notices of contravention: 239 health-related were served at 201 sites; and
- Fee for intervention: 85+201 = 51% of sites visited.
A Notification of Contravention, Improvement or Prohibition notice or a Prosecution will result in fee payable to HSE – Fee for Intervention.
The fee is based on the amount of time the inspector spent identifying the material breach, helping businesses to put it right, investigating and taking enforcement action.
HSE’s Chief Inspector, Heather Bryant, said:
“We recognise the construction sector’s progress in reducing the number of people killed and injured by its activities. But it is clear from these figures that there is an unacceptable toll of ill-health and fatal disease in the industry.
So, to encourage the industry to treat health issues in the same way as safety, HSE’s inspectors will consolidate the efforts of this initiative throughout the rest of the year by looking at the prevention and control of health risks in construction, alongside their continued assessment of the management of safety risk issues.
We will make sure the construction industry ‘Thinks health’ as well as safety.”
Latest Construction Health and Safety News
BULK BAG COLLAPSE CAUSED BY UNSAFE STACKING
Bulk bag collapsed onto workman when struck by fork lift
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 9th December 2019INTERLOCKED GUARD NOT WORKING TO ISOLATE POWER
Two workmen seriously injured when plant started unexpectedly
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 9th December 2019STREET FURNITURE RISK TO PUBLIC FINED £1.4M
Council prosecuted following injury to child playing on hinged bollard
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 9th December 2019WORKMEN SUFFER SERIOUS BURNS FROM CABLE STRIKE
Assessment and system of work failed to appreciate electrical risk
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 29th November 2019LADDERS WERE INAPPROPRIATE FOR WORK ON ROOF
Workman paralysed after falling whilst installing roof ladder
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 28th November 2019FIRM FAILED TO MANAGE EXHAUST VENTILATION
HSE enforcement notices on wood dust and welding fume ignored
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 27th November 2019RECALCITRANT DIRECTOR BARRED FROM OFFICE
Dangerous telehandler used despite earlier fatality and enforcement
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 25th November 2019DIRECTOR HID UNSAFE WORKING PRACTICES FROM HSE
Workers exposed to sprayed paints containing asthma causing isocyantes
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 25th November 2019JAIL TERM FOR CONTRACTOR CAUSING GAS RISK
Roofer sentenced after work caused carbon monoxide release
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 22nd November 2019UNSTABLE STAIRCASE COLLAPSE DURING REFURB WORK
Workman not informed of staircase hazard suffered serious injury
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 22nd November 2019UNUSED SEAT BELT WAS “COMMON PRACTICE” ON SITE
Overturning dumper truck caused death of operators at spoil heap
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 22nd November 2019SELECTED NEWS POSTED RECENTLY ON TWITTER
![PP Construction Safety logo and link to home page [1]](https://www.ppconstructionsafety.com/wp-content/themes/ppcs960/images/ppcslogo.jpg)
Links to other construction health and safety related news reports
HSE LOOK TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES FOR CDM SUPPORT
Council Inspectors focus on CDM client duties – asbestos, fragility and RCS
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 14th November 2019VERBAL WARNING OF DANGER IS NO DEFENCE
Hand of female worker entangled in modified metal drilling rig
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 14th November 2019UNDERGROUND CABLE STRIKE CAUSES 50% BURNS
Workman seriously injured using hand-held breaker to excavate post holes
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 14th November 2019HSE WELDING FUME REVISED GUIDANCE PUBLISHED
New research evidence on cancer link prompts revision on welding fume
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 14th November 2019VIBRATION MANAGEMENT FAILINGS FINED £600,000
Vital health surveillance, tool replacement and management found wanting
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 14th November 2019HSE ENFORCEMENT DATABASE LATEST UPDATE
View current online register of HSE prosecutions and enforcement notices
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 31st October 2019DEVELOPER AND DIRECTOR PUT PUBLIC AT RISK
Demolition undertaken without surveys and effective safety precautions
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 28th October 2019BY-PASSING MACHINE INTERLOCK FINED £1.275 MILLION
Trapped key safety system failed to prevent access to conveyor danger
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 24th October 2019HSE LOSES PATIENCE WITH ERRANT CONTRACTOR
Roofing firm fined £30,000 over failure to manage work at height risks
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 24th October 2019TRUSS ERECTION LACKED INTERNAL FALL PROTECTION
Carpenter fell and injured whilst falling with roof truss
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 24th October 2019WORKMAN FELL HEAD FIRST THROUGH ROOFLIGHT
Fragile roof dangers not assessed and properly controlled
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 24th October 2019STRUCTURAL SAFETY BODY LATEST NEWSLETTER
CROSS publishes reports and expert comment on a range of issues
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 18th October 2019HSE RISK REDUCTION THROUGH DESIGN AWARD
Regulator seeks to promote hazard avoidance and risk minimisation
Posted on 18th October 2019
