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.
A day-long inspection initiative by HSE on 3 July 2012 saw a small team of Inspectors visit 22 construction sites across North Hackney and South Tottenham, Haringey.
Enforcement action had to be taken at nine of those sites, with six Prohibition Notices served requiring dangerous practices to stop immediately, and six Improvement Notices served requiring safety improvements to be made. One site was completely closed down due to exceptionally hazardous conditions.
Common issues found during the inspections were:
HSE is committed to capturing and taking forward the health and safety learning legacy from the London 2012 Games.
Visit the Lessons for industry web pages to find out more
HSE and the construction industry are working in partnership to reduce the risks from construction dusts. Construction dust is not just a nuisance; it is responsible for a large amount of the non-asbestos lung diseases that construction workers develop. These diseases include cancer, silicosis, asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
The IOSH Construction Group is supporting this work. They have produced a survey to gather up-to-date information on the uptake and use of controls for dust risks.
By completing the survey you will help to shape how the industry continues to take this issue forward. It is quick to do and also gives important information about current control standards.
The purpose of this safety notice is to remind dutyholders of the need to fully assess the risks from work at height activities.
HSE has prepared information to help those organising events to manage the safe erection, use and deconstruction of temporary demountable structures.
Do you use Approved Codes of Practice?
Have your say on proposals to review HSE's ACOPs
Improve the health and safety of your business by attending a health and safety event near you. Most of the Working Well Together (WWT) events we list are FREE and all provide an opportunity to meet like-minded people, see interesting new equipment and get confidential advice.
Find your nearest WWT Group and get involved.
Places are available at the following Working Well Together (WWT) events
11 September 2012 - Dust in Construction, Durham
Dust on construction sites presents the biggest health risk after asbestos. This half day event and exhibition is aimed at managers, supervisors and operatives
11 September 2012 - Health & Safety Awareness Day, Wrexham
This free event will run from 8:30 - 14:30 and is aimed at small construction companies and the self employed. Topics covered will include Fee for Intervention, asbestos, working at height during refurbishment works, site organisation and contact with electricity cables.
13 September 2012 - Mock Trial 2012 – Kidderminster
As director or senior manager, your task is to make sure things go right for your business. With the best will, things can go wrong. This mock trial aims to explain what can happen when things go wrong.
Plus many more WWT eventsover the forthcoming year.
Read details of some recent HSE prosecutions and enforcement action in the construction sector and find sources of relevant advice.
11 July 2012 - A Lincolnshire builder has been fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,800 after a spot check by HSE revealed his construction site was unsafe. A scaffold was found to have numerous defects and the site itself was very untidy, with numerous slips, trips and fall hazards.
13 July 2012 - A Northumberland firm and two of its directors have been fined for safety failings after the death of a teenage worker who fell six metres through a barn roof. The 18 yr old was carrying out repairs to the roof lights of the barn when the roof panel, made of fibre cement board, he was standing on collapsed.
16 July 2012 - A demolition firm and its director have been fined £2,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,500 after endangering workers by not providing a safe means of working on a roof during the demolition of a public house in West Sussex.
20 July 2012 - Construction firm prosecuted and fined £6,500 and ordered to pay costs of £2,530 after workers fall from Didsbury school roof. The court heard that the workers were fortunate to escape with only minor injuries.
2 July 2012 – A Teesside council has been fined a total of £20,000 and ordered to pay £5,555.60 costs for putting workers at risk of exposure to asbestos during clearance work of premises in Stockton prior to demolition.
13 July 2012 – A school was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay £13,000 in costs after the unsafe removal of asbestos insulation led to several people being exposed to asbestos fibres.The director of the company responsible for the refurbishment project was fined £10,000 with costs of £6,000.
20 July 2012 - A self-employed builder has been fined £75,000, ordered to pay £25,452 in costs and handed a 12 month community service order after work he carried out on an elderly couple's home resulted in their death from carbon monoxide poisoning.
We issue e-Bulletins on a regular basis and would welcome your feedback and views as well as any suggestions/contributions for future articles.
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