E040:09 12 May 2009

One in five construction sites fail health and safety checks

One in five construction sites failed health and safety checks during the latest national inspection initiative carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), figures released today reveal.

Inspectors from Britain’s workplace regulator visited 1759 refurbishment sites during March and checked on how 2145 contractors were complying with health and safety regulations.

On 348 sites sufficiently serious risks were discovered to warrant enforcement action being taken – either stopping work immediately or ordering improvements to be made. Close to five hundred enforcement notices were issued.

HSE said that improvements had been witnessed by its inspectors in certain parts of the country since last year – when inspectors had to take enforcement action on 30% of the sites visited.

Phillip White, HSE’s new Chief Inspector of Construction, said:

"This inspection initiative was well publicised and for our inspectors to still find this level of disregard for basic health and safety standards on refurbishment sites is disappointing.

"While any improvement has to be welcomed, our inspectors still found practices so far below the acceptable standard that they felt it necessary to take enforcement action on one in five sites. This is still very worrying."

Unsafe work at height practices remain a huge concern.  As in the previous initiative, over half of the enforcement action taken this time was as a result of dangerous work at height, which last year (2007/08) led to the death of 34 construction workers.

Last year (2007/08) over half (52%) of the workers who died on construction sites worked in the refurbishment, repair and maintenance sector.

During the inspection initiative, HSE inspectors looked at whether:

• Jobs that involved working at height had been identified and properly planned to ensure that appropriate precautions were in place
• Equipment was correctly installed / assembled, inspected and maintained and used properly
• Sites were well organised to avoid trips and falls
• Walkways and stairs were free from obstructions
• Work areas were clear on unnecessary materials and waste
• The risks associated with exposure to asbestos were managed and carried out correctly
• The work force were made aware of risk control measures

Notes to editors

1. The HSE Board has overall responsibility for occupational health and safety regulations in Great Britain, and HSE and Local Authorities are the enforcing authorities that work in support of the Board.
2. The inspection initiative saw 1759 sites visited during March 2009, with the work of 2145 contractors being inspected, resulting in 491 contractors across 348 sites receiving enforcement notices.   
3. Previous inspection inititiatives include:
   • the Fit Out Campaign in 2005 (http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/fitout/index.htm),
   • the Watch Your Step initiative in 2006 (http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/slips/index.htm) and,
   • the Falls and Trips inspection initiatives in Summer 2007 and February 2008 (http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/tripsandfalls/update.htm#feb08)
4. HSE’s latest annual work related fatal injury statistics can be viewed at: www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/fatals.htm
5. Full details of this initiative can be viewed at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/tripsandfalls/results2009.htm

Press enquiries

Karl Turner, karl.turner@hse.gsi.gov.uk, 0151 951 5778
Out of hours: 0151 922 1221

Public enquiries

HSE's InfoLine: 0845 345 0055
Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG

HSE information and news releases can be accessed on the Internet www.hse.gov.uk