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HSE HEALTH WEBPAGES UPDATED AND REVISED
Changes reflect raised inspection & enforcement on health risks
The HSE managing health risks webpages have been changed extensively to support the increasing HSE focus on “health as well as safety” risks in construction.
HSE recognise that there have been big improvements over recent years in reducing the number and rate of injuries to construction workers. However, a number of serious ill-health issues continue to affect construction workers. These can be devastating for individuals and families.
This new webpages tell you about these risks and how to manage them.
The ‘Big picture’
Every year more working days are lost due to work-related illness compared to injuries. The statistics[1] reveal that construction workers have a high risk of developing diseases from a number of health issues.
- Cancer – construction has the largest burden of occupational cancer amongst the industrial sectors. It accounts for over 40% of occupational cancer deaths and cancer registrations. It is estimated that past exposures in the construction sector annually cause over 5,000 occupational cancer cases and approximately 3,700 deaths. The most significant cause of these cancers is asbestos (70%) followed by silica (17%) working as a painter and diesel engine exhaust (6-7% each).
- Hazardous substances – dusts, chemicals and potentially harmful mixtures (eg in paints) are common in construction work. Some processes emit dusts, fumes, vapours or gases into the air and these can be significant causes of breathing problems and lung diseases. A number of construction-related occupations also have high rates of dermatitis from skin exposures to hazardous substances.
- Physical health risks – skilled construction and building trades are one of the occupations with the highest estimated prevalence of back injuries and upper limb disorders.Manual handling is the most commonly reported cause of over seven-day injuries in the industry. Construction also has one of highest rates of ill-health caused by noise and vibration.
Latest Construction Health and Safety News
HSE TO OVERSEE NEW BUILDING SAFETY REGIME
Government to deliver biggest change in building safety for a generation
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Posted on 21st January 2020CONTRACTS MANAGER HANDED TWO YEAR PRISON TERM
Safety fall arrest netting would have saved life of deceased workman
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Posted on 15th January 2020WORKER FATALLY INJURED BY CONCRETE BEAM
Lifting operation not properly planned, managed and supervised
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Posted on 15th January 2020TREE FELLING OPERATIONS LACKED DEFINED COMMS
Workman struck by falling tree inside “normal” exclusion zone
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Posted on 14th January 2020CONTRACTOR ARRESTED OVER WELFARE FAILINGS
Recalcitrant sole trader failed to attend court hearing
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Posted on 14th January 2020MAJOR DEMOLITION CONTRACTOR FINED £500,000
Collapse of concrete slab caused death of worker and excavator fall
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Posted on 14th January 2020FALL FROM LADDER WHILST CARRYING BUCKET
Contractor failed to provide basic safe lifting aids
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Posted on 14th January 2020FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH HSE NOTICE PROVES COSTLY
Director given suspended jail term and company fined £60,000
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Posted on 14th January 2020DEVELOPER FAILED TO PLAN AND CHECK COMPETENCE
Fall caused by ad-hoc working methods and lack of monitoring
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Posted on 14th January 2020CYLINDER LEAK TEST CAUSED FATAL INJURIES
Corrosion inhibitor triggered failure and shrapnel ejection
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Posted on 14th January 2020FESTIVE GREETINGS TO ALL OUR READERS
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JAIL TERM FOLLOWS ROUTINE HSE SPOT CHECK
Director of a roofing firm handed a suspended prison sentence
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Posted on 19th December 2019TEENAGER FELL 3M DURING BLOCK AND BEAM WORK
Workers uninstructed and left to devise own safe system of work
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Posted on 19th December 2019PARCEL CARRIER FINED HEAVILY OVER FLT INCIDENT
Reversing fork lift lacked segregation from pedestrians
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Posted on 18th December 2019CONTRACTOR FINED OVER FLOOR OPENING FALL
Thorough risk assessment and edge protection were both inadequate
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Posted on 18th December 2019THREE WORKERS “CARRIED ALONG” IN SEWER INCIDENT
Mentally affected and one man treated for long-term traumatic stress
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Posted on 11th December 2019SOLAR FIRM AND DIRECTOR SENTENCED OVER DEATH
Brother of business owner died in fall during panel installation
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Posted on 10th December 2019DIRECTOR AND COMPANY FINED FOR ASBESTOS RISK
HSE refurbishment campaign inspection revealed asbestos offences
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Posted on 10th December 2019BULK BAG COLLAPSE CAUSED BY UNSAFE STACKING
Bulk bag collapsed onto workman when struck by fork lift
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Posted on 9th December 2019INTERLOCKED GUARD NOT WORKING TO ISOLATE POWER
Two workmen seriously injured when plant started unexpectedly
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Posted on 9th December 2019STREET FURNITURE RISK TO PUBLIC FINED £1.4M
Council prosecuted following injury to child playing on hinged bollard
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Posted on 9th December 2019WORKMEN SUFFER SERIOUS BURNS FROM CABLE STRIKE
Assessment and system of work failed to appreciate electrical risk
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Posted on 29th November 2019LADDERS WERE INAPPROPRIATE FOR WORK ON ROOF
Workman paralysed after falling whilst installing roof ladder
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Posted on 28th November 2019FIRM FAILED TO MANAGE EXHAUST VENTILATION
HSE enforcement notices on wood dust and welding fume ignored
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Posted on 27th November 2019RECALCITRANT DIRECTOR BARRED FROM OFFICE
Dangerous telehandler used despite earlier fatality and enforcement
Posted on 25th November 2019
