Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Construction
Welcome to the latest edition of Construction Infonet.
Construction Infonet is a free e-Bulletin from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to provide a regular update on health and safety issues for all in the construction industry.
HSE has issued a consultative document on proposals for new regulations requiring the notification of tower cranes. The proposed regulations will require employers who use 'conventional' tower cranes on construction sites to notify certain information about the crane to HSE and for HSE to make arrangements for this information to be made publicly available in a national register.
The consultative document seeks your views on the scope of the proposed new regulations. To help you present your views, there is an online questionnaire, or a form to download and complete.
An Inquiry into the underlying causes of construction fatal accidents was commissioned by the Secretary of State for Work & Pensions in December 2008. The Inquiry arose from concern over the number of construction deaths, to examine what more could be done to tackle the underlying causes.
The Inquiry was chaired by Rita Donaghy CBE FRSA. Her report and recommendations were published on 8 July 2009 and is available for download.
New figures from HSE reveal that the number of people killed at work in Britain has fallen to a record low. Provisional data shows that 53 construction workers were killed between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009.
Judith Hackitt, HSE Chair commented "these statistics are encouraging but there is no magic wand in health and safety. When those running organisations show personal leadership, and when workers are involved in tackling the risks that they face, safety can be improved and lives saved - that is how we can turn this encouraging sign into real sustained improvement."
HSE's Construction Industry Advisory Committee (CONIAC) will be holding an open meeting on Wednesday 22 July in London. If you would like to attend the meeting please follow the link below to register your interest. Please note, seats are limited in number.
Read details of some recent HSE prosecutions and enforcement action in the construction sector and find sources of relevant advice.
Work at Height remains the single biggest cause of workplace deaths and one of the main causes of major injury.
3 July 2009 - Employers are being warned by HSE to ensure they assess the risks of falling from height in the workplace and provide safe systems of work.
This follows HSE's prosecution of Veolia Environmental Services Birmingham Ltd (VESB), of, Birmingham and its contractor Hansen Transmissions Ltd (HTL) of, Huddersfield.
On 5 July 2007, an employee of HTL was working to replace a gearbox within a condenser unit at VESB's premises when he fell more than 10 metres. Fortunately, he landed on a pallet of bundled narrow bore copper pipes which broke his fall. However, he suffered serious injuries including broken ribs, a punctured lung and a hernia.
HTL was fined a total of £70,000 and ordered to pay £22,000 costs by Birmingham Crown Court after the company pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. VESB was fined a total of £100,000 and ordered to pay £22,000 costs after pleading guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
HSE warned employers to ensure proper procedures are in place to keep staff safe when working on construction sites.
The warning follows the prosecution of PC Harrington Contractors Ltd after an employee died and another was seriously injured during construction works carried out at Wembley Stadium. PC Harrington Contractors Ltd, based in Grays Inn Road, London, pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The court fined the company £150,000 and ordered them to pay full costs of £25,203.
The investigation followed an incident on 15 January 2004, when a platform became dislodged during a lifting operation, causing it to fall and hit two workers. This resulted in the death of one worker, Patrick O' Sullivan and seriously injured another. Both men were working on the building of the concrete superstructure of the stadium at the time.
Builder Colin Holtom and contractor Darren Fowler were convicted at the Old Bailey of offences following the death of Adam Gosling aged 15 years.
The court heard that Adam had been doing some casual work for Colin Holtom, who traded as Maldon Groundworks. Holtom was sub-contracted to Romford-based Soneca Systems Ltd to carry out a large garden landscaping and refurbishment project at a private address in Hadley Wood. The project manager for the site was Darren Fowler. The work centred around an outdoor swimming pool. The existing pool-house had been demolished exposing a 22-foot long wall which was seven-foot high and had a large crack running almost down its centre. The wall was deemed unsafe and required demolition. There was no proper discussion or instruction on how the wall was to be removed before work started and Adam and his brother began demolition with no supervision.
Simon Hester, HSE investigating inspector said: ‘The management and set-up of this small construction project was appalling. Adam Gosling should never have been there at all as 15 year olds have been banned from working on construction sites since 1920.'
Holtom, of Latchindon, Essex pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Fowler, of Upminster, Essex, had previously pleaded guilty to working while disqualified from being a company manager and failure to discharge a duty imposed by Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 contrary to Section 33 (1a) of the said Act. They will be sentenced on Monday 20 July 2009.
HSE does not wish to spoil anyone's enjoyment of fine weather and summer holidays but we do want to highlight the following sensible seasonal precautions.
HSE has issued a new warning urging parents to keep their children away from construction sites.
In the past two years, there have been nearly 60 serious injuries to children on UK construction sites, including one death, and HSE is concerned that there may be an increased danger this year with more sites being mothballed during the economic downturn.
Companies are being reminded that, even if no work is taking place, regular checks should be carried out to make sure people are not able to get onto sites and that the sites remain in a safe condition.0.
When working outdoors the effects of the weather can potentially have a very serious impact on an employee's welfare if the risks have never been previously considered or managed properly. HSE has produced guidance for workers and employers to help manage these risks.
HSE has developed an interactive web based guide for small businesses to help them protect their workers from breathing in asbestos fibres.
The leaflet 'Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969, 'A Guide for Employees and their Representatives', has been re-issued.
HSE is warning businesses across Britain not to be duped into buying unnecessary and overpriced copies of its health and safety law poster.
This guide outlines the occupational health and safety system in Great Britain. It responds to the many requests for information HSE receives from international visitors, enquirers and researchers, although many in Great Britain will also find it informative.
So far, 754 organisations have pledged their support for the new HSE strategy and have agreed to work with HSE and our partners to Be Part of the Solution. Visit the HSE website to find out who they are and how you too can be involved.
Call 0845 345 0055 or visit the contact HSE website.
Call 0845 300 9923 or RIDDOR website.
We issue e-Bulletins on a regular basis and would welcome your feedback and views as well as any suggestions/contributions for future articles.
Thank you to those who have provided feedback on the previous editions - we have tried to incorporate as many of the suggestions as possible.
You can contact us at: construction-manager@bulletins.hse.gov.uk