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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
PROPERTY FIRM FINED OVER FATAL FALL FROM TREE
Untrained workers using chain saw engaged to fell large sycamore
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Posted on 23rd July 2019LANDLORD PUT PUBLIC AT RISK FROM ASBESTOS
Powered jet washing of asbestos cement sheets caused spread
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Posted on 23rd July 2019WORKMAN FELL FROM SUSPENDED ACCESS EQUIPMENT
Health Board and maintenance firm director prosecuted
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Posted on 23rd July 2019CONSIDERING TEMP WORKS IN PERMANENT DESIGN
Useful overview for civil and structural engineers on contemporary practice
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Posted on 23rd July 2019FIRM FAILED TO COMPLY WITH SITE WELFARE NOTICE
Basic welfare requirements found wanting for second time
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Posted on 23rd July 2019PRISON TERM OVER POORLY GUARDED CIRCULAR SAW
Workman lost three fingers using machine without guard and riving knife
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Posted on 23rd July 2019COMPANY IGNORED HSE ON SILICA DUST ACTION
Worktop manufacturer failed to control dust and manage ventilation
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Posted on 23rd July 2019ASBESTOS REMOVED WITHOUT SURVEY OR CONTROLS
Client fined over failure to commission refurb and demo survey
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Posted on 15th July 2019‘VICTORIAN’ SAFETY AND FATIGUE BEHIND RAIL DEATH
Investigation report links zero hours contracts to hazardous fatigue
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Posted on 13th July 2019MPS EXAMINE CONSTRUCTION RESPIRATORY HEALTH
Parliamentary group calls for evidence on the impact of worker silicosis
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Posted on 12th July 2019UNSAFE LIFTING OPERATION TRAPPED WORKMAN
Sling failure and inadequate lifting plan resulted in leg amputation
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Posted on 12th July 2019HSE ENFORCEMENT DATABASE LATEST UPDATE
View current online register of HSE prosecutions and enforcement notices
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Posted on 11th July 2019TIMBER FRAME FIRM FAILED ON FIRE AND FALLING
House builder fined after routine HSE site inspection
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Posted on 11th July 2019FIRM FAILED TO ACT ON SILICA DUST RISK
Cutting of paving flags exposed workers to respirable crystalline silica
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Posted on 11th July 2019POST GRENFELL BUILDING SAFETY SYSTEM REVIEW
Structural safety body seek support for key reporting role
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Posted on 11th July 2019OVERCOME BY CUTTING IN CONFINED SPACE
Construction worker suffered carbon monoxide poisoning
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Posted on 8th July 2019APPRENTICE OVERCOME BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR
Stripping operations lacked ventilation controls, RPE and training
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Posted on 8th July 2019DEBRIS FROM DEMOLITION SITE NOT RESTRAINED
Loss assessor on adjacent property injured by stray waste
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Posted on 8th July 2019WORKMAN FELL FROM UNGUARDED FLAT ROOF
Basic work at height management systems and training absent
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Posted on 8th July 2019CONSTRUCTION FATALITIES FALL TO RECORD LOW
HSE release final annual workplace fatality figures 2018/19
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Posted on 3rd July 2019FEMALE WORKER SCALPED AND BADLY INJURED
Wood product manufacturer fined £466,000 over rotating shaft danger
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Posted on 2nd July 2019TOWER SCAFFOLD FALL CAUSED LONG-TERM DAMAGE
Principal Contractor director and two firms sentenced after worker fall
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Posted on 2nd July 2019MISSING PEDESTRIAN BARRIER TRIGGERED DEATH
Workman walked from building into path of moving lorry
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Posted on 26th June 2019WORKMAN SURVIVED 9M FLAT ROOF FALL
Suitable and sufficient edge protection not provided
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Posted on 26th June 2019PRISON SENTENCE FOR IGNORING HSE PROHIBITION
Roofing contractor sentenced over unsafe working at height
Posted on 15th June 2019
